Can you use 'a' and 'para' interchangeably sometimes?

Question

I am a Spanish teacher and I've always told my students that if you can say 'in order' to in English then you need to put 'para' in a sentence in Spanish. However, the other day in one of our worksheets there was a case where I would have used para but the text used 'a'. On the same sheet there was a seemingly similar sentence and the author used 'para'. Are they interchangeable sometimes? Is one an error? Or is there a special rule that I'm missing? I told my students that I'd find out. Here are the examples:Ejemplo 1: El jueves me lastimé el brazo y no fuimos con los otros a esquiar. Ejemplo 2: En las vacaciones de primavera, mi familia y yo fuimos a las montañas para esquiar.

Thanks

Answer 1

In this case, both can be used, "a" and "para" can both be when you're talking about going somewhere to do something.

For example: I'll go there to improve my skills ~ Iré allí para mejorar mis habilidades

Also:

Iré allí a mejorar mis habilidades

But there has to be a movement implicated.

If we say:

I do it in order to improve my skill ~ Lo hago para mejorar mi habilidad

But:

Lo hago a mejorar mi habilidad, does NOT make sense.

Thanks for the answer! I appreciate your time! - spanrunner, Feb 18, 2010

Answer 2

from what my professors have told me, there is no set rule for your example. it has always been a disappointing answer. they say that with practice and immersion, you will eventually "just know" which to use. hopefully someone else has a better answer for us!

Thanks for trying to help me! - spanrunner, Feb 18, 2010