Lecture on Por and Para in Spanish

Introduction

• Por and Para are two prepositions in Spanish that often confuse learners.
• Both mean "for," but they have different uses.
• Por has seven common uses, while Para has six.

Uses of Por

1. Cause or Reason

   • Expresses motive, cause, or reason.
   • Example: "Voy a la tienda de comestibles por leche." (I am going to the grocery store for milk.)
   • Example: "Nosotros no podemos salir por la lluvia." (We can't go out because of the rain.)

2. Approximate Time or Regularity

   • Used for approximate times or regular events.
   • Example: "Estudiamos español una vez por semana." (We study Spanish once every week.)
   • Example: "Luis vino a casa por Navidad." (Luis came home for Christmas.)

3. Costs or Prices

   • Refers to exchanges or the cost of goods/services.
   • Example: "Te daré $30 por ese sofá." (I will give you $30 for that sofa.)

4. General Location

   • Refers to an approximate location, similar to "around."
   • Example: "El baño debe estar por aquí." (The bathroom must be around here.)

5. Means of Communication or Transport

   • Indicates a method of communication or conveyance.
   • Example: "Voy a enviarte el reporte por correo electrónico." (I am going to send you the report by email.)
   • Example: "El viaje por barco es más largo." (The journey by ship is longer.)

6. Time of Day

   • Signifies a part of the day.
   • Example: "Yo hago yoga por la tarde." (I do yoga in the afternoon.)

7. Direct Objects or Passive Subjects

   • Used in passive voice to indicate the subject of the action.
   • Example: "El gato fue salvado por el bombero." (The cat was saved by the fireman.)

Uses of Para

1. Purpose

   • Refers to a purpose, goal, or objective, often with an infinitive verb.
   • Example: "Camila renunció a su trabajo para buscar uno mejor." (Camila quit her job to look for a better one.)

2. Recipient or Addressee

   • Used for indicating the recipient.
   • Example: "¿La manzana es para la maestra?" (Is the apple for the teacher?)

3. Time Period or Deadline

   • Shows that something has a scheduled time or deadline.
   • Example: "Debes tener la tarea lista para las ocho en punto." (You must have the assignment ready by eight o'clock.)

4. Opinion

   • Used to express an opinion.
   • Example: "Para mí, la mejor medicina es comer saludable." (For me, the best medicine is eating healthy.)

5. Destination

   • Refers to where something is heading or moving toward.
   • Example: "Este tren va para Berlín." (This train goes to Berlin.)

6. Opposite Idea

   • Positions two disparate ideas to highlight something noteworthy.
   • Example: "Para ser tan joven, ella es muy responsable." (For being so young, she's very responsible.)

Conclusion

• Understanding the differences between Por and Para makes using these prepositions less perplexing.
• Additional resources and practice are available on the companion article and blog.
• BaseLang offers Spanish classes for further learning.

Additional Resources

• BaseLang.com: Unlimited one-on-one Spanish classes via Zoom.
• Practice Questions: Available on the blog to test understanding.
• Related Lessons: Video on the Spanish Preterite.