por used with derribar.

Question

Hello every one,

I just witnesses a sentence example on SD ,, which is as follows : "un golpe lo derribó por el suelo" .. A blow knocked him down to the floor.. now, this sentence does make perfect sense to me but I don't understand the reason for using the preposition por after the verb .. if we are saying ..the blow knocked him down TO the floor ..so should we not rather be usimg the directional preposition "a" and say instead "un golpe lo derribó al suelo" .. Can some one please help me understand this .. thanks ..

I already am aware of the difference between por and para and most of the common uses of por .. but many a times the Spanish prepositions dont click me well .. beyond my understanding - 00b055e0, May 16, 2014

Answer 1

I agree that por in this phrase sounds a little strange. I can only guess that the speaker meant something like "in the general direction of" but it still does not sound natural.

yes my friend .. Spanish prepositiins give me a heart attack some times .. hehe - 00b055e0, May 16, 2014

Maybe . on his way to lo más allá , by way of the floor? - annierats, May 18, 2014

Answer 2

hmmm maybe the best way to describe this usage of por with echar and tirar would be that it would mean "to spread all over" the use of por could also refer to around and about.

If this is not enough, tell me.

ok .. I think I umderstand .. thanks ... for example .. I can say .. el bebé ha tirado la acuarela por la pared (the baby has thrown or spattered the water color all around the wall) .. is this correct - 00b055e0, May 18, 2014

correcto or embadurnado la pintura por toda la pared (smeared) :) - chileno, May 18, 2014

What about in the case of the salt and pan? I left you clues too for that one. :) - chileno, May 18, 2014

Answer 3

Instead of "derribar" maybe the intent was to use "echar"?

I dont know but this example is from SD - 00b055e0, May 16, 2014

but this is an example for derribar ..mwhen u go to the dictionary section and look up derribar, it gives u this example there - 00b055e0, May 16, 2014

I went to the dictionary and looked for "derribar". No example using "por". Could you please cut an paste the complete example phrase? - chileno, May 17, 2014

Copy and paste it here... :) - chileno, May 17, 2014

please go to this link and play the video translation .. then u will hear it and see it (in the short video)http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/Derribar - 00b055e0, May 17, 2014

Got it. Wrong usage. Lo tiró/echó por el suelo would be correct but not with derribar that's used with "a el/al suelo". - chileno, May 17, 2014

thanks chileno.. but again .. why por with echar or tirar ? because we are throughing something on the floor and not through or by the floor .. - 00b055e0, May 17, 2014

for example .. if I say that I will through the garbage out of the window (through the window) .. then I will use por and say .. tiraré/voy a tirar la basura por la ventana .... but if I say I am throughing the garbage on the floor or on the street then I - 00b055e0, May 17, 2014

then according to my understanding I will use some other preposotion .. for example .. por que tiraste la basura en el suelo (on the ground) ... I am very weak with prepositions so I dont know if I am right or wrong but I really wonder why por should be - 00b055e0, May 17, 2014

with tirrar or echar .. for example if I say ... add some salt in the pan .. so will I say .. echa un poco de sal en el sartén - 00b055e0, May 17, 2014

or will I say ..echa un poco de sal por el sartén .. (I am just a beginner so please dont mind my asking too many questions) .. alpreciate your help - 00b055e0, May 17, 2014

gracias - 00b055e0, May 17, 2014

I will post here later. I have to think how I am going to tackle this explanation. :) - chileno, May 17, 2014

Jimmy: " throw and throwing " the garbage through the window. Cheers. - britisk, May 18, 2014

Answer 4

One of the many uses of " por " is defined In my dictionary as in connection with movement or direction.

Therefore: " ..the blow knocked him down TO the floor " suggests both of these.

I may be completely wrong here , but I feel that the use of "por" in this sentence can be justified when using "derribar, tirar, sacar or echar ".

with tirar, sacar and echar, but not derribar. a or por will have a different meaning even if it means that the guy is going to end up on the floor! :D - chileno, May 18, 2014

ok, many thanks Chileno. - britisk, May 18, 2014