para vs. a

Question

Is there a difference between:

1. Nuestra cita es para las nueve y media.

2. Nuestra cita es a las nueve y media.

Thanks!

Answer 1

I see little difference in meaning. It is like saying "Our meeting is scheduled for 9:30 in the morning." and "Our meeting is at 9:30 in the morning."

Other examples of para with time.

Meaning by or for when referring to a specific time: Necesito el regalo para mañana. I need the gift for tomorrow. Vamos a la casa de mi madre para el fin de semana. We're going to my mother's for the weekend.

Sometimes the difference seems insignificant between the use of por and para with time.

Por Denoting a time or duration when something occurs.:

Viajamos por tres semanas. We're traveling for three weeks.

Vamos a la casa de mi madre para el fin de semana. We're going to my mother's for the weekend.

That is exactly it! :) - chileno, Nov 29, 2011

Answer 2

In your example, there is no difference in meaning. It´s just two different ways of saying the same thing, ie: "Me voy para el pueblo, hoy es mi día...." or "Me voy al pueblo, hoy es mi día .........." From an old song.

Answer 3

I don't think you'd use para in that case, but I could be mistaken. Normally with times, you would use 'a'

The first sentence (with para) was given as an example on Learn Spanish 3.6 :) - Ada-S, Nov 29, 2011

Maybe it depends on whether the time is stressed vs the meeting is being is stressed. ? - Ada-S, Nov 29, 2011