for

Por vs. Para 
Cheat Sheet
PREMIUM
for(
for
)
A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and another word (e.g. He ran through the door.).
preposition
1. (intended for)
a. para
This rack is for carrying your boat.Esta parrilla es para transportar tu barco.
2. (used to indicate purpose)
a. para
He gave me a trip to Mexico for my birthday.Me regaló un viaje a México para mi cumpleaños.
3. (used to indicate destination)
a. para
She got on a plane for Santiago.Se embarcó en un avión para Santiago.
4. (considering)
a. para
The hotel was fine for what it cost.El hotel estaba bien para el precio.
5. (in exchange for)
a. por
I don't work for peanuts.No trabajo por una miseria.
6. (used to indicate duration)
a. durante
I worked there for two years.Trabajé allí durante dos años.
b. por
I've been waiting for 15 minutes.He estado esperando por 15 minutos.
c.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
How long were you waiting for him?¿Cuánto tiempo le esperaste?
We're going to Alaska for two weeks.Vamos dos semanas a Alaska.
7. (before)
a. para
This has to be done for Friday.Esto tiene que estar terminado para el viernes.
8. (in favor of)
a. a favor de
Not many people would be for raising taxes.No hay mucha gente que estaría a favor de subir los impuestos.
9. (used to indicate distance)
a. por
We walked for ten miles.Caminamos por diez millas.
10. (used to introduce an infinitive clause)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
A lot of problems had to be solved for the machine to work.Se tuvieron que resolver muchos problemas para que funcionara la máquina.
It was time for me to leave.Ya era hora de irme.
11. (representing)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
The Y in YMCA stands for "young."La Y de YMCA es de "young".
What's French for "tree?"¿Cómo se dice "árbol" en francés?
12. (because of)
a. por
He's known for his bad temper.Es conocido por su mal humor.
13. (on behalf of)
a. para
He plays for Real Madrid.Juega para el Real Madrid.
b.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Could you tell him for me?¿Podrías decírselo tú?
That's not for me to say.Yo no me meto en eso.
14. (in spite of)
a. a pesar de
For all the problems we faced, we finished the project on time.A pesar de todos los problemas a los que nos enfrentamos, acabamos el proyecto en el plazo previsto.
15. (on the occasion of)
a. para
We had fish for lunch.Comimos pescado para el almuerzo.
What are you doing for Christmas?¿Qué vas a hacer para Navidad?
A conjunction is a word that connects words, phrases, clauses, or sentences (e.g. The cat and the dog slept.).
conjunction
16.
A word or phrase restricted in usage to literature or established writing (e.g., sex, once upon a time).
(literary)
(because)
a. puesto que
They were hungry, for there was nothing to eat.Estaban hambrientos, puesto que no había nada que comer.
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