Today we’ll give you some useful tips to differentiate Por y Para once for all. Understanding their correct use is a challenge that every Spanish student face. Even after years of studying the language, there’re always doubts when using these two prepositions. However, with the correct method you’ll be able to distinguish them and finally use them with confidence. We’re here to help you so let’s start learning them.
The most used between them is definitely por. It has many different uses in a wide range of contexts. So what you need to do is to remember the meaning of this Spanish preposition is each situation.
- On behalf of: quisiera recoger un paquete por la señora Rodriguez.
- Duration of an action: estuve esperandote por 1 hora y media.
- Means of communication/transport: ¿me lo enviaste por email? No, te lo envié por correo.
- Frequency of an action: Voy al gimnasio 3 veces por semana (per week).
- Undetermined time: Mi hermana suele dormir por la tarde (in the afternoon).
- To apologize or thank someone: Lo siento por el retraso/Gracias por tu ayuda.
- Feel sorry for someone: Lo siento por tu abuelo.
- Through/by/along: Cuando vienes a mi casa, si pasas por la plaza, llegas más rápido.
- Be about to do something, using por + infinitive: Estoy por salir, ¿necesitas algo?
- Passive voice: Este cuadro fue pintado por Van Gogh.
- Ask for someone: Cuando llegas a mi oficina, pregunta por mí.
- For multiplication (in math): 3 por 2 son 6.
- To state the cause or reason for an action: Él se perdió por mi culpa.
On the other side, para has limited uses and for this reason it’s easier to remember:
While we use por to express the cause of an action, para is used to express its purpose: estudio para ser abogado (I study to become a lawyer).
Another factor that we have to be aware of is the difference between doing an action for someone or on behalf of someone. As stated above, we say: voy a comprar el libro por Lucia (I’m going to buy the book on behalf of Lucia). But if the book is a gift, we use para: voy a comprar el libro para Lucia (I’m going to buy the book for Lucia).
When giving an opinión, para is the right preposition: Para mí la comida española es la más rica del mundo.
- For the destination of a trip: El vuelo para Alemania sale a las 10:30.
- For a deadline: Esta tarea es para el lunes.
- To state the function of something: Esta crema es para las manos.
- To make comparison: Tu hijo es muy maduro para su edad.
From now on, be more confident using these two Spanish prepositions!!
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