Difference between revisions of "Language/Spanish/Grammar/Por-vs-Para"

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


when should you use "POR" or "PARA"?
when should you use <span class="notranslate">"POR"</span> or <span class="notranslate">"PARA"</span>?




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* <span class="notranslate">"POR"</span>: refers to the '''CAUSE'''. A cause is the source of, the reason for an event or action that which produces or effects a result. It can be replaced by the English "'''due to'''".
* <span class="notranslate">"POR"</span>: refers to the '''CAUSE'''. A cause is the source of, the reason for an event or action that which produces or effects a result. It can be replaced by the English "'''due to'''".
* <span class="notranslate">"PARA"</span>: is used to say the '''PURPOSE'''. The purpose is an object to be reached, a target, an aim or a goal. It can be replaced by the English "'''in order to'''".
* <span class="notranslate">"PARA"</span>: is used to say the '''PURPOSE'''. The purpose is an object to be reached, a target, an aim or a goal. It can be replaced by the English <span class="notranslate">"'''in order to'''"</span>.
 
[[Language/English/Vocabulary/Cause-vs-Purpose|Cause vs Purpose]]
[[Language/English/Vocabulary/Cause-vs-Purpose|Cause vs Purpose]]


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BUT I have 2 bad news:
BUT I have 2 bad news:
#There are exceptions to this rule, else it would be too easy!
#There are exceptions to this rule! Else, it would be too easy! <span class="notranslate">:)</span>
#The only way to master these exceptions is to learn them by heart gradually.
#The only way to master these exceptions is to learn them by heart and gradually.


As usual, do not think to read this article and have definitively solved the problem between <span class="notranslate">"POR"</span> and <span class="notranslate">"PARA"</span>.
As usual, do not think to read this lesson and have definitively solved this issue.


I'm going to teach you to distinguish them, but write down any difficulties you encounter to help your memory. Master these exceptions little by little, and without pressure.  
I'm going to teach you to make the difference between those two words. I suggest you to write down all the difficulties you encounter. It will help you to remember little by little.  


Let's start to learn:
Let's start to learn!


== Specificities of <span class="notranslate">"POR"</span> ==
== Specificities of <span class="notranslate">"POR"</span> ==
=== Refers to the cause ===
=== The cause ===
*<span class="notranslate">Es famoso por su canción</span>
*<span class="notranslate">Es famoso por su canción</span>
<blockquote>He is famous because of - or thanks to - this song</blockquote>
<blockquote>He is famous because of this song</blockquote>


=== Refers to a space crossing ===
=== Pass through a space ===
"<span class="notranslate">pasar por</span>"
"<span class="notranslate">pasar por</span>"
*<span class="notranslate">él pasó por aquí</span>
*<span class="notranslate">él pasó por aquí</span>
<blockquote>He went through here</blockquote>
<blockquote>He went through here</blockquote>


=== Indicates a time of the day ===
=== Time of the day ===
"<span class="notranslate">por la mañana, por la tarde, por la noche.</span>"
"<span class="notranslate">por la mañana, por la tarde, por la noche.</span>"
*<span class="notranslate">Por la mañana, suelo desayunar mucho.</span>
*<span class="notranslate">Por la mañana, suelo desayunar mucho.</span>
<blockquote>In the morning, I usually eat a lot for breakfast</blockquote>
<blockquote>In the morning, I usually eat a lot for breakfast</blockquote>


=== Express a feeling ===
=== A feeling ===
*<span class="notranslate">Me apasiono por el español.</span>
*<span class="notranslate">Me apasiono por el español.</span>
<blockquote>I am passionate about Spanish language</blockquote>
<blockquote>I am passionate about Spanish language</blockquote>
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<blockquote>I am disgusted by German language</blockquote>
<blockquote>I am disgusted by German language</blockquote>


=== Price or exchange ===
=== Price ===
*<span class="notranslate">Lo he comprado por diez euros.</span>
*<span class="notranslate">Lo he comprado por diez euros.</span>
<blockquote>I bought it for ten euros</blockquote>
<blockquote>I bought it for ten euros</blockquote>


=== Thanks for ===  
=== Thanks for something ===  
"Thanks for" will always be translated by <span class="notranslate">"gracias por"</span>
"Thanks for" will always be translated by <span class="notranslate">"gracias por"</span>
*<span class="notranslate">Gracias por leer este artículo.</span>
*<span class="notranslate">Gracias por leer este artículo.</span>
<blockquote>Thanks for reading this article</blockquote>
<blockquote>Thanks for reading this article</blockquote>


=== Verbs that are always followed by <span class="notranslate">"por"</span> ===
=== Verbs always followed by <span class="notranslate">"por"</span> ===
This is the case, for example, with <span class="notranslate">"preocuparse por"</span> or <span class="notranslate"> "interesarse por" </span>
This is the case, for example, with <span class="notranslate">"preocuparse por"</span> or <span class="notranslate"> "interesarse por" </span>


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*<span class="notranslate">Me intereso por tu historia.</span>
*<span class="notranslate">Me intereso por tu historia.</span>
<blockquote>I'm interested in your story</blockquote>
<blockquote>I'm interested in your story</blockquote>
*Disculpa por el retraso
*<span class="notranslate">Disculpa por el retraso</span>
<blockquote>I apologize for being late</blockquote>
<blockquote>I apologize for being late</blockquote>


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!English
!English
|-
|-
|afanarse por
|<span class="notranslate">afanarse por</span>
|to strive to
|to strive to
|-
|-
|asustarse por (or de)
|<span class="notranslate">asustarse por</span>
|to get frightened about
|to get frightened about
|-
|-
|cambiar por
|<span class="notranslate">cambiar por</span>
|to exchange for
|to exchange for
|-
|-
|comenzar por or con
|<span class="notranslate">comenzar por</span>
|to begin with/by
|to begin with
|-
|-
|decidirse por
|<span class="notranslate">decidirse por</span>
|to decide on
|to decide on
|-
|-
|desvelarse por
|<span class="notranslate">desvelarse por</span>
|to be very concerned about
|to be very concerned about
|-
|-
|disculparse por
|<span class="notranslate">disculparse por</span>
|to apologize for
|to apologize for
|-
|-
|esforzarse por
|<span class="notranslate">esforzarse por</span>
|to struggle to
|to struggle to
|-
|-
|estar por
|<span class="notranslate">estar por</span>
|to be in favor of
|to be in favor of
|-
|-
|interesarse por
|<span class="notranslate">interesarse por</span>
|to be interested in, to ask about
|to be interested in
|-
|-
|jurar por
|<span class="notranslate">jurar por</span>
|to swear by/on
|to swear by
|-
|-
|luchar por
|<span class="notranslate">luchar por</span>
|to struggle for
|to struggle for
|-
|-
|molestarse por
|<span class="notranslate">molestarse por</span>
|to bother about
|to bother about
|-
|-
|optar por
|<span class="notranslate">optar por</span>
|to opt for
|to opt for
|-
|-
|pagar por (or con)
|<span class="notranslate">pagar por</span>
|to pay with/by
|to pay with
|-
|-
|preguntar por
|<span class="notranslate">preguntar por</span>
|to ask about/after
|to ask about
|-
|-
|preocuparse por
|<span class="notranslate">preocuparse por</span>
|to worry about
|to worry about
|-
|-
|rezar por
|<span class="notranslate">rezar por</span>
|to pray for
|to pray for
|-
|-
|salir por
|<span class="notranslate">salir por</span>
|to leave via
|to leave via
|-
|-
|ser decidido por
|<span class="notranslate">ser decidido por</span>
|to be decided by
|to be decided by
|-
|-
|tomar por
|<span class="notranslate">tomar por</span>
|to take for
|to take for
|-
|-
|viajar por (tren, autobús)
|<span class="notranslate">viajar por (tren, autobús)</span>
|to travel by (train, bus)
|to travel by (train, bus)
|-
|-
|votar por
|<span class="notranslate">votar por</span>
|to vote for
|to vote for
|}
|}


== Specificities of "PARA"==
== <span class="notranslate">"PARA"</span>==
=== Express the purpose ===
=== purpose ===
*<span class="notranslate">El regalo es para los lectores del blog.</span>
*<span class="notranslate">El regalo es para los lectores del blog.</span>
<blockquote>The gift is for blog readers.</blockquote>
<blockquote>The gift is for blog readers.</blockquote>
=== Express the goal===
=== goal===
*<span class="notranslate">Para practicar español, no es necesario vivir en un país hispanohablante.</span>
*<span class="notranslate">Para practicar español, no es necesario vivir en un país hispanohablante.</span>
<blockquote>To learn Spanish, you do not have to live in a Spanish speaking country.</blockquote>
<blockquote>To learn Spanish, you do not have to live in a Spanish speaking country.</blockquote>


=== Refers the recipient ===
=== recipient ===
*<span class="notranslate">Este regalo es para ti.</span>
*<span class="notranslate">Este regalo es para ti.</span>
<blockquote>This gift is for you</blockquote>
<blockquote>This gift is for you</blockquote>
=== Express a point of view ===
=== point of view ===
*<span class="notranslate">Para mí, es importante viajar.</span>
*<span class="notranslate">Para mí, es importante viajar.</span>
<blockquote>For me it is important to travel.</blockquote>
<blockquote>For me it is important to travel.</blockquote>
=== Announces a scheduled date ===
=== scheduled date ===
*<span class="notranslate">Para el 20 de mayo, hay que aprender esta lección.</span>
*<span class="notranslate">Para el 20 de mayo, hay que aprender esta lección.</span>
<blockquote>For May 20, you have to learn this lesson.</blockquote>
<blockquote>For May 20, you have to learn this lesson.</blockquote>
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!English
!English
|-
|-
|para abajo
|<span class="notranslate">para abajo</span>
|down, downward
|down, downward
|-
|-
|para adelante
|<span class="notranslate">para adelante</span>
|forward
|forward
|-
|-
|para detrás
|<span class="notranslate">para detrás</span>
|backward
|backward
|-
|-
|para entonces
|<span class="notranslate">para entonces</span>
|by that time
|by that time
|-
|-
|para esa época
|<span class="notranslate">para esa época</span>
|by that time
|by that time
|-
|-
|para otra vez
|<span class="notranslate">para otra vez</span>
|for another occasion
|for another occasion
|-
|-
|para que
|<span class="notranslate">para que</span>
|so that, in order that
|so that, in order that
|-
|-
|para qué
|<span class="notranslate">para qué</span>
|why for what purpose
|why for what purpose
|-
|-
|para siempre
|<span class="notranslate">para siempre</span>
|forever
|forever
|-
|-
|para variar
|<span class="notranslate">para variar</span>
|just for a change
|just for a change
|-
|-
|ser tal para cual
|<span class="notranslate">ser tal para cual</span>
|to be two of a kind
|to be two of a kind
|}
|}

Revision as of 11:12, 10 October 2018

"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 should you use "POR" or "PARA"?


Let's discover, together, how to avoid confusing these two words and avoid many errors!

  • "POR": refers to the CAUSE. A cause is the source of, the reason for an event or action that which produces or effects a result. It can be replaced by the English "due to".
  • "PARA": is used to say the PURPOSE. The purpose is an object to be reached, a target, an aim or a goal. It can be replaced by the English "in order to".

Cause vs Purpose

Por vs. Para Spanish.png


BUT I have 2 bad news:

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

As usual, do not think to read this lesson and have definitively solved this issue.

I'm going to teach you to make the difference between those two words. I suggest you to write down all the difficulties you encounter. It will help you to remember little by little.

Let's start to learn!

Specificities of "POR"

The cause

  • Es famoso por su canción

He is famous because of this song

Pass through a space

"pasar por"

  • él pasó por aquí

He went through here

Time of the day

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

  • Por la mañana, suelo desayunar mucho.

In the morning, I usually eat a lot for breakfast

A feeling

  • Me apasiono por el español.

I am passionate about Spanish language

  • Tengo asco por el alemán.

I am disgusted by German language

Price

  • Lo he comprado por diez euros.

I bought it for ten euros

Thanks for something

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

  • Gracias por leer este artículo.

Thanks for reading this article

Verbs always followed by "por"

This is the case, for example, with "preocuparse por" or "interesarse por"

  • 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

I apologize for being late

More verbs:

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"

purpose

  • El regalo es para los lectores del blog.

The gift is for blog readers.

goal

  • 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

  • Este regalo es para ti.

This gift is for you

point of view

  • Para mí, es importante viajar.

For me it is important to travel.

scheduled date

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

For May 20, you have to learn this lesson.

Expressions using "para"

"estar para"

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.

More expressions:

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

POR

PARA

Sources

https://espagnol-pas-a-pas.fr/por-et-para-comment-enfin-ne-plus-les-confondre/

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/spanish/spanish-verbs-with-prepositions/

https://www.lawlessspanish.com/grammar/verbs/verbs-with-por/

https://www.spanishdict.com/guide/expressions-with-por-and-para/

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