por ti vs para ti
SpanishDict does a great job in its review of Para vs Por. I have often seen "por ti" when I would thin it should be "para ti" For example, I saw a sign in the window of a lavand". eria. The sign said "lo hacemos por ti.. I would have thought ....para ti . If por ti is correct, could someone explain why? Gracias por su ayuda
2 Answers
Para- for the purposes of, in order to, etc.
Por- in the stead of
In this case por make more sense - they are doing it in place of you, so you don't have to.
(This is not to say para doesn’t necessarily make sense, as you are the end recipient though).
Look at two examples
Anoche, canté para él- Last night I sang for him. He was my audience, I sang to him.
Anoche, canté por él- Last night I sang for him. He was ill, so couldn’t sing, so I sang in his place, instead of him.
Compré este regalo para ti- I bought this gift for you- it is a present for you.
Compré este regalo por ti- I bought this gift for you- you couldn’t make it to the store to buy the present we need for the party, so I stopped by an bought it in your stead. It is for the person who is having the party.
Does this help?
"Por" also means "on behalf of." So the sentence could mean (literally) we do it on your behalf.
