Lo haré por tí

Question

Why por here and not para? It IS FOR you? isn't like Para, for you? Not in exchange for, so I don't really get why.

"Ti", not "tí" - lazarus1907, Jan 25, 2011

Answer 1

I think lo haré por tí is something like "I'll do it because of you" whereas lo haré para tí means s.l "I'll do it for you", anyway I think they can be used interchangeably.

but wouldn't for you always mean because of you in that sense? I guess not. I'll mow the yard for you wouldn't mean because of. But I'll stay here for you does mean because of. I see it. - jeezzle, Jan 24, 2011

I think you are having a good idea of whether use it or not. :) - Dakie, Jan 24, 2011

In Spanish there are examples in wich the word "por tí" plays different roles - Dakie, Jan 24, 2011

too - Dakie, Jan 24, 2011

"Ti", not "tí" - lazarus1907, Jan 25, 2011

Answer 2

Yes, it is 'for' you or 'because' of you

ella lo hará por mí -> she'll do it for me

Lo traje para ti -> I brought it for you - I didn't buy it as a gift 'por tí', I bought it for you because you didn't have time and you're giving it to someone as a gift, for example.

lo compré por tí - bought it for you, I bought it as a gift for you.

Okay. I'm worried now. You have two votes and have been doing this stuff for awhile, and, yet, I think you've got it backwards. I would use para tí when giving a gift to you, for example. Agghh! Which of us is right? - webdunce, Jan 25, 2011

"Ti", not "tí" - lazarus1907, Jan 25, 2011

Answer 3

For the same reason you say in English "for you" sometimes, and "to you" other times.

I think "a ti" as "to you" do you think of "para" as to you? Because I think of both por and para as for you. One, por, as an exchange or something, and para as a direct "for" like "Voy a trabajar por ti" I will work for you, in place of you "Voy a trabaj - jeezzle, Jan 24, 2011

ar para tí" I will work for you, as in FOR you, you will be my employer. - jeezzle, Jan 24, 2011

Yes, pretty much jeezzle - Dakie, Jan 24, 2011

I think you got it. - Dakie, Jan 24, 2011

Answer 4

The problem is that in English we say " I will sing for John." Do we mean sing to him or sing in place of him. The only we we know which "for" we mean is from context. I will sing a song to John because he likes songs, or I will sing in place of John because he is sick and has a sore throat.

In Spanish they have two words for "for" > Para and Por' Cantaré para Juan = I will sing for John (because he can't) Cantaré por Juan =I will sing to John (because he will enjoy it.)

Lo haré para tí = I will make it for you (so you won't have to) Lo haré por tí = I will make it for you (to keep)

Lo haré para tí = I will make it for you (so you won't have to) Lo haré por tí = I will make it for you (to keep) -so isn't this back to front ;-) - jeremybentham, Jan 25, 2011

I'm afraid you have it exactly backwards, hunger. - webdunce, Jan 25, 2011

Either that or I have misunderstood por and para for 4 years, which is possible, too. - webdunce, Jan 25, 2011

"Ti", not "tí" - lazarus1907, Jan 25, 2011

whops,I think I have been making this mistake for a quite a while.while, thanks for the correction, I will have to work on my para/por concepts some more! - Hungerford, Jan 25, 2011

Answer 5

Ok, everyone: the word "ti" does not have an accent! Writing "tí" is an ortographic mistake.

Why por here and not para? It IS FOR you? isn't like Para, for you? Not in exchange for, so I don't really get why.

The "exchange" use is a very specific use that only comes up in very specific circumstances. The preposition "por" means "because (of)" 99% of the time (OK, I made up this statistic, but I bet it is very high nevertheless).

"I did it because of you" ("Lo hice por ti") means that the person is the reason why you did it, it shows your concern for this person. "I did it for you" ("Lo hice para ti") means that the other person is the recipient of whatever it is you are going to give him/her, but you still can add that you did it for him, but because of someone else. They are not the same, although they serve very similar purposes. Do you find it unnecessary to have two prepositions for this? Well... you use two in English too, so there you go!

Don't bother thinking about the "exchange" thing unless you are exchanging things (e.g. "esto por lo otro"): "por" is used to give reasons.

Answer 6

Before lazarus has a heart attack:

First person singular:
subject pronoun = yo
object pronoun = mí
possessive adjective = mi
The tilde differentiates the two otherwise similar words and the possesive adjective doesn't have one--yó is not a word.

Second person singular:
subject pronoun = tú
object pronoun = ti
possevive adjective = tu
The tilde differentiates the two otherwise similar words and the possesive adjective doesn't have one--tí is not a word.

Answer 7

Lo haré por tí = I'll do it for you = I'll do it on your behalf (it's your job, but I'll do it.)

Lo haré para tí = I'll do it for you = I'll do it for your benefit.

There could be a some overlap as at times it would to one's benefit if you did something on their behalf, right?

My two cents.

Lo haré por tí...solo para tí. :-) - webdunce, Jan 25, 2011

"Ti", not "tí" - lazarus1907, Jan 25, 2011