Por and para and time

Question

Hi all,

I thought that I was pretty firm on the uses of por and para but I came across some things that have made me think twice, so I ask the experts for their input. This is a pretty common problem in spanish learning so I did some googling, and it seems to me like some of this is contradictory. For instance, this site:

http://www.lingolex.com/swom/wom-porpara.htm

says that para is used to describe length of time: "Necesito una habitación para 6 noches".

But this site:

http://legacy.lclark.edu/~benenati/porpara/porpara.html

says that por is used to express passage of time: "Patricio trabajó aquí por varios (durante) meses"

Is there something I'm missing here, or is one site incorrec

Answer 1

Hi, thanks for the responses. So in response to my original question it sounds like the lingolex site is indeed incorrect and por is used for expressions of lengths of times...right?

Correct. - --Mariana--, Jun 8, 2010

Answer 2

Robertico, are you saying that this is correct?

"Necesito una habitación para 6 noches".

I thought that a duration of time called for "por."

No...I think I made a mistake...what I meant to say is that para and por both mean for. The two examples I provided explain the difference. I'll erase the first sentence of my post. - 00813f2a, Jun 7, 2010

Thanks, that clears it up a lot! I was worried that I learned something incorrectly. :-) - --Mariana--, Jun 7, 2010

Answer 3

Aprendé que 'por' se utiliza con tiempo y comunicación. 'Para' se utiliza con personas y ocasiónes.

Ejemplo: Nosotros bailamos por dos horas. (o) Estoy hablando por teléfono. Ejemplo: Yo preparé para la fiesta.(o) Nosotros limpiaron la casa para mi mamá.

Creo que dije eso correcto. I think I said that correct. Estoy aprendiendo español I am learning spanish.

I learned that 'por' is used with time and communication. 'Para' is used with people and occasions.

Example: We danced for two hours. (or) I am talking on the phone. Example: I prepared for the party.(or) We cleaned the house for my mom.

So... are you saying that the example in my post should be "por" or "para?" - --Mariana--, Jun 7, 2010

Since its about time, I would say por. - aclongo, Jun 7, 2010

Answer 4

In both cases, para and por mean for. If you say: "Patricio trabajó aquí para varios meses" - then the sentence doesn't make sense because in this case para means to work for something or somebody, therefore, the need to use por in this particular case. Sentences like: "Patricio trabajó para el gobierno" and "Patricio trabajó por varios meses" illustrate the difference.

Answer 5

Generally, it might help to see para as indicating purpose, while por is more about indicating cause.

As far a time periods go I wouldn't say categorically that 'por' is used for expressions of lengths of time, the key to your particular question may be the following:

Use PARA for: A future time limit: Es para mañana. (It’s for tomorrow.)

Use POR for: An indefinite time period: Duerme por la tarde. (He sleeps in the afternoon.)

I think "es para manana" could fit under the category I listed above: "people and occasions." The morning would be an occasion. Those two categories (time/communication vs people/occasions) I listed have help me ALOT with these 2 words :) - aclongo, Jun 8, 2010