para una semana or por una semana

Question

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

Good question. See below for answer and link. - rogspax, Apr 1, 2013

Answer 1

"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.

Answer 2

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.

Answer 3

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

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

Answer 4

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

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

Answer 5

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.