Language/Spanish/Grammar/Por-vs-Para

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"POR" and "PARA" in Spanish: how not to confuse them:

In today's lesson, we are studying something that may seem difficult for many Spanish learners:

when to use "POR" or "PARA"?

Together, let's discover how to avoid confusing these two words and avoid many errors!

  • "POR": it refers to the cause. A cause is the reason for an action producing a result. We can use the following English expression: "due to".
  • "PARA": it is used to express purpose. The purpose is an object to be reached or a goal. We can use the following English expression: "in order to".
Por vs. Para Spanish.png


Unfortunately, there's bad news:

  1. There are exceptions to this rule! Else, it would be a piece of cake! :)
  2. The only way to master these exceptions is to learn them by heart and gradually.

As usual, do not expect to master the use of these two words by reading this lesson once.

I'm going to teach you to differentiate between these two words.

I suggest you to write down all the difficulties you encounter. It will enhance your progress and gradually quicken your memory.

Let's begin!

"POR"[edit | edit source]

The cause[edit | edit source]

  • Es famoso por su canción

He is famous for his song

Pass through a space[edit | edit source]

"pasar por"

  • Él pasó por aquí

He went through here

Time of the day[edit | edit source]

"Por la mañana, por la tarde, por la noche."

  • Por la mañana suelo desayunar mucho.
  • Suelo desayunar mucho, por la mañana.

In the morning, I usually eat a lot for breakfast

A feeling[edit | edit source]

  • Me apasiono por el español.

I am passionate about Spanish language

  • Tengo asco por el alemán.

I am disgusted by German language

Price[edit | edit source]

  • Lo he comprado por diez euros.

I bought it for ten euros

Thanks for something[edit | edit source]

"Thanks for" will always be translated by "gracias por"

  • Gracias por leer este artículo.

Thanks for reading this article


Verbs always followed by "por"[edit | edit source]

Examples:[edit | edit source]

  • Me preocupo por tu salud

I am worried about your health

  • Me intereso por tu historia.

I'm interested in your story

  • Disculpa por el retraso

Sorry for being late

List[edit | edit source]

Spanish English
afanarse por to strive to
asustarse por to get frightened about
cambiar por to exchange for
comenzar por to begin with
decidirse por to decide on
desvelarse por to be very concerned about
disculparse por to apologize for
esforzarse por to struggle to
estar por to be in favor of
interesarse por to be interested in
jurar por to swear by
luchar por to struggle for
molestarse por to bother about
optar por to opt for
pagar por to pay with
preguntar por to ask about
preocuparse por to worry about
rezar por to pray for
salir por to leave via
ser decidido por to be decided by
tomar por to take for
viajar por (tren, autobús) to travel by (train, bus)
votar por to vote for

"PARA"[edit | edit source]

purpose[edit | edit source]

  • El regalo es para los lectores del blog.

The gift is for blog readers.

goal[edit | edit source]

  • Para practicar español, no es necesario vivir en un país hispanohablante.

To learn Spanish, you do not have to live in a Spanish speaking country.

recipient[edit | edit source]

  • Este regalo es para ti.

This gift is for you

point of view[edit | edit source]

  • Para mí, es importante viajar.

For me it is important to travel.

scheduled date[edit | edit source]

  • Para el 20 de mayo, hay que aprender esta lección.

For May 20, you have to learn this lesson.

Expressions using "para"[edit | edit source]

"estar para"[edit | edit source]

This expression is used to indicate an action that is about to be realized:

  • Estamos para terminar la lección de hoy.

We are about to finish today's lesson.

List of expressions[edit | edit source]

Spanish English
para abajo down, downward
para adelante forward
para detrás backward
para entonces by that time
para esa época by that time
para otra vez for another occasion
para que so that, in order that
para qué why for what purpose
para siempre forever
para variar just for a change
ser tal para cual to be two of a kind

Videos[edit | edit source]

Sources[edit | edit source]

Other Lessons[edit | edit source]

Contributors

Maintenance script and Sfdario19


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