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para una semana or por una semana

para una semana or por una semana

3
votes

Would you say - quiero alquilar un coche para una semana ....but...cuanto cuesta por una semana? Im confused. Gracias por su respuesta smile

13624 views
updated Apr 1, 2013
posted by SantoJorge
Good question. See below for answer and link. - rogspax, Apr 1, 2013

5 Answers

2
votes

"El alquiler del coche es para mí. Lo quiero por una semana."

"¿Cuánto cuesta la semana?" If you want a preposition use "por" , but "¿Cuánto cuesta por semana?"

"Para una semana" is correct since 'semana' is a feminine noun

The use of por/para has nothing to do with the gender of the subject of the prepositional phrase.

updated Apr 1, 2013
posted by 005faa61
2
votes

My vote is por ....por expresses''''' duration or impercise point of time, motion through , cause or reason, means by which

Para espresses destination , time by which, labels standard of comparison , label information in sentence as opinion and denotes motivation or for the sake of.

These are easy to confuse and so I recommend referring to the grammar lesson for examples

Hope this helps.

updated Apr 1, 2013
edited by gohern
posted by gohern
2
votes

"Por una semana" is "for the extent of a week" "Para una semana" is "because of a week [something]". It sounds incomplete

updated Apr 1, 2013
posted by comunacho
I agree, with para, it sounds incomplete, but I think the real problem is that they should both be Por in the first place. - rogspax, Apr 1, 2013
thanks, but when you say i want to rent "for" one week or one day, would you use "por" or "para". I thought "para" sounds more correct. What do you think pls? - SantoJorge, Apr 1, 2013
Comunacho, it's great to see your contribution today. Thanks for the answer. - katydew, Apr 1, 2013
1
vote

"Para una semana" is correct since 'semana' is a feminine noun - you can also say "durante una semana".

updated Apr 1, 2013
posted by Scribe-Lady
I don't believe this has anything to do with gender. We're talking about Por vs Para here, which function irrespective of gender. - rogspax, Apr 1, 2013
I realised that after I'd written it - I guess I'm still more of a beginner than I thought I was :) - Scribe-Lady, Apr 1, 2013
No worries. I've done the same thing before while trying to help,and I'll probably do it again yet. - rogspax, Apr 1, 2013
1
vote

quiero alquilar un coche para una semana ....but...cuanto cuesta por una semana?

I would say the first clause is Por, for duration. The second one, I could look at as either duration, or possibly, very liberally interpreted, in exchange for a period of time (though that's rather far fetched) but either way, it would seem to be under Por as well.

There are a few good lessons here on this site, including This one.

updated Apr 1, 2013
edited by rogspax
posted by rogspax