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4.2: Por y para

  • Page ID
    317260
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    "Por" and "Para"

    "Por" and "para" might be both translated to the word "for" in English, but they are not used interchangeably in Spanish. Let’s look at the uses of "por" and "para" indicated in bold.

    Uses of Por and Para

    Por

    Para

    Motion (movement – by, through, around, along)

    Conduzco por la autopista 5 todos los días.

    Destination (A to B)

    Salgo para San Diego mañana.

    Duration of time

    Anoche practiqué la presentación por dos horas.

    Due date

    Tengo que hacer una presentación para el martes.

    Substitution (in place of, on behalf of)

    Hoy Keiko trabaja por Mariela porque está enferma.

    Employment

    Keiko y Mariela trabajan para Starbucks.

    Transportation or communication (by means of)

    Llamo a mis abuelos por teléfono todos los fines de semana.

    Raúl va a Nueva York por avión.

    Intent, purpose, use

    Ellos vinieron temprano para ayudarnos.

    Este cuadro es para la sala.

    Measurement (per)

    Las naranjas cuestan cincuenta centavos por kilo.

    Conduzco a 65 millas por hora en la autopista.

    Recipient

    Los regalos son para los niños.

    Cociné la cena para mi familia.

    A reason or a cause

    ¡Muchas gracias por su ayuda!
    Estoy contenta por el viaje.

    Comparison, in one’s opinion

    Para una niña de siete años, Luciana es muy lista.

    Para mí, el problema es muy fácil.

    In exchange

    Te pago diez dólares por esta calculadora.

    In order to: Para + infinitive

    Para llegar a tiempo, es importante salir temprano.

    Idiomatic Expressions with "Por" (Only Used with "Por")

    • Por aquí – Around here
    • Por casualidad – By chance
    • Por ejemplo – For example
    • Por eso – That's why / For that reason
    • Por favor – Please
    • Por fin – Finally
    • Por lo menos – At least
    • Por lo tanto – Therefore
    • Por otra parte – On the other hand
    • Por si acaso – Just in case
    • Por supuesto – Of course
    • Por último – Lastly / Finallyo

    Idiomatic Expressions with "Para" (Only Used with "Para")

    • Para colmo – To make matters worse
    • Para siempre – Forever
    • Para nada – Not at all
    • Para que conste – For the record
    • Para todos los gustos – For all tastes
    • Para variar – To change things up
    • Para bien o para mal – For better or worse
    • Para que te hagas una idea – To give you an idea
    • Para serte sincero/a – To be honest with you
    • Para entonces – By then

    This page titled 4.2: Por y para is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Sara Jacome-Thompson, Evergreen Valley College (ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative) .