Por/Para recipients

Question

It is in my understanding that para is used for recipients, of things and actions. However, I've seen sentences which imply recipients that use por. They are receiving actions, even if it is not directly. I am not sure if these are wrong.

Here are some examples:

Paso por ti a las ocho. (I'll stop by for you at 8) No voté por nadie. (I didn't vote for anyone.) Fui al supermercado por mi madre porque ella estaba enferma. ( I went to the supermarket for my mother because she was sick) La firmo por Ud. I sign it for you

I've read somewhere that por is used when doing something on someone's behalf. But if they are recieving the action, how is that not a recipient? It seems really arbitrary. Another example, I expected this to be "por" because they are doing the act on another person's behalf:

Las mujeres se lanzan fuera de los edificios para los chicos. (The women throw themselves off buildings for the boys.)

This site says doing things for someone's benefit uses para: http://www.spanish411.net/Spanish-Using-Por-Para.asp

So does this question: http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/2159/lo-hago-por-ti.-vs.-lo-hago-para-ti

Answer 1

"Para" has the additional meaning of "intended for" Esta cerveza es para ti.

"Pasar" por is idiomatic and is a "stock" expression" Votar por is also idiomatic. "Por" also has the additional meaning of "for the benefit of" Hago esto por ti. All of your sentences with "por" have this meaning.

Your last sentence is confusing because "fuera de" means outside of and "edificios para los chicos" means "the boys' buildings" or the "buildings for the boys" It is a really confusing sentence for me. Maybe one of my Spanish compatriots or Mexican friends can make sense out of it. I don't understand the English either. (Big sigh)

Here are a few Por and para links.

Basic por and para

Advanced por and para

idioms with por and para

:) - ian-hill, Jun 7, 2016

I thought you did one on por vs para too. :) - rac1, Jun 7, 2016

What about the supermercado one? This is what confuses me about doing something on someone's behalf or "for the benefit of". If you are going to the supermarket for your mother, aren't they receiving the action? - laostirner, Jun 7, 2016

Also, I'm seeing para being used for "for the benefit of/someone's behalf" here: http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/2159/lo-hago-por-ti.-vs.-lo-hago-para-ti and here http://www.spanish411.net/Spanish-Using-Por-Para.asp - laostirner, Jun 7, 2016

If you will go to the links I provided, I think you will find all you need. I can't add much more to that. - Daniela2041, Jun 7, 2016