POR y PARA USORMA2008. "Por" and "para" have a variety of meanings, and they are often confused because they can each be translated as "for. “ Gracias

POR y PARAPOR y PARAUSOUSO

RMARMA

20082008

POR y PARAPOR y PARA

"Por" and "para" have a variety of "Por" and "para" have a variety of meanings, and they are often meanings, and they are often confused because they can each be confused because they can each be translated as "for.translated as "for.““

Gracias por la información.Gracias por la información.Thanks for the information.Thanks for the information.

Este regalo es para Juan.Este regalo es para Juan.This gift is for Juan.This gift is for Juan.


To learn to use "por" and "para" To learn to use "por" and "para" correctly, you need to do two things:correctly, you need to do two things:

Learn the rules for how por and para Learn the rules for how por and para are used.are used.

Memorize model sentences.Memorize model sentences. "Por" has many uses, and so it is the "Por" has many uses, and so it is the

more problematic of the two. more problematic of the two.

POR y PARAPOR y PARA Rule: Rule: to express gratitude or apologyto express gratitude or apology

Model: Model: Gracias por la ayuda.Gracias por la ayuda.(Thanks for the help.)(Thanks for the help.)

Rule: Rule: for multiplication and divisionfor multiplication and division

Model: Model: Dos por dos son cuatro.Dos por dos son cuatro.(Two times two equals four.)(Two times two equals four.)

Rule: Rule: for velocity, frequency and proportionfor velocity, frequency and proportion

Model: Model: Voy al restaurante cinco veces por semana.Voy al restaurante cinco veces por semana.(I go to the restaurant five times per week.)(I go to the restaurant five times per week.)

POR y PARAPOR y PARA Rule: Rule: meaning "through," "along," "by" or "in the meaning "through," "along," "by" or "in the

area of"area of"Model: Model: Andamos por el parque.Andamos por el parque.(We walk through the park.)(We walk through the park.)

Rule: Rule: when talking about exchange, including when talking about exchange, including salessalesModel: Model: Él me dio diez dólares por el libro.Él me dio diez dólares por el libro.(He gave me ten dollars for the book.)(He gave me ten dollars for the book.)

Rule: Rule: to mean "on behalf of," or "in favor of,"to mean "on behalf of," or "in favor of,"Model: Model: No voté por nadie.No voté por nadie.(I didn't vote for anyone.)(I didn't vote for anyone.)

POR y PARAPOR y PARA Rule: Rule: to express a length of timeto express a length of time

Model: Model: Yo estudié por dos horas.Yo estudié por dos horas.(I studied for two hours.)(I studied for two hours.)

Rule: Rule: to express an undetermined, or general to express an undetermined, or general time, meaning "during"time, meaning "during"Model: Model: Se puede ver las estrellas por la noche.Se puede ver las estrellas por la noche.(One can see the stars during the night.)(One can see the stars during the night.)

Rule: Rule: for means of communication or for means of communication or transportationtransportationModel: Model: Prefiero viajar por tren y hablar por Prefiero viajar por tren y hablar por teléfono.teléfono.(I prefer to travel by train and speak by phone.)(I prefer to travel by train and speak by phone.)


Rule: Rule: in cases of mistaken identity, or in cases of mistaken identity, or meaning "to be seen as"meaning "to be seen as"Model: Model: Me tienen por loco.Me tienen por loco.(They take me for crazy.)(They take me for crazy.)

Rule: Rule: to show the reason for an errand to show the reason for an errand (with ir, venir, pasar, mandar, volver, and (with ir, venir, pasar, mandar, volver, and preguntar)preguntar)Model: Model: Paso por ti a las ocho.Paso por ti a las ocho.(I'll come by for you at eight o'clock.)(I'll come by for you at eight o'clock.)


Rule: Rule: when followed by an infinitive, to when followed by an infinitive, to express an action that remains to be express an action that remains to be completed, use por + infinitivecompleted, use por + infinitiveModel: Model: La cena está por cocinar.La cena está por cocinar.(Dinner has yet to be cooked.)(Dinner has yet to be cooked.)

Rule: Rule: to express cause or reasonto express cause or reasonModel: Model: El hombre murió por falta de El hombre murió por falta de agua.agua.The man died for lack of water.The man died for lack of water.


Rule: Rule: "estar por" means to be in the "estar por" means to be in the mood, or inclined to do somethingmood, or inclined to do somethingModel: Model: Estoy por tomar café.Estoy por tomar café.(I'm in the mood for drinking coffee.)(I'm in the mood for drinking coffee.)

Rule: Rule: in passive constructionsin passive constructionsModel: Model: El libro fue escrito por Octavio El libro fue escrito por Octavio Paz.Paz.(The book was written by Octavio Paz.)(The book was written by Octavio Paz.)

POR y PARAPOR y PARA "Por" also appears in many idiomatic expressions:"Por" also appears in many idiomatic expressions: por adelantadopor adelantado

in advancein advance por ahorapor ahora

for nowfor now por allípor allí

around there; that wayaround there; that way por amor de Diospor amor de Dios

for the love of Godfor the love of God por aquípor aquí

around here; this wayaround here; this way


por casualidadpor casualidadby chanceby chance

por cientopor cientopercentpercent

por ciertopor ciertocertainlycertainly


por completopor completocompletelycompletely

por dentropor dentroinsideinside

por desgraciapor desgraciaunfortunatelyunfortunately

por ejemplopor ejemplofor examplefor example


por esopor esothereforetherefore

por favorpor favorpleaseplease

por finpor finfinallyfinally

por lo generalpor lo generalgenerallygenerally

por lo vistopor lo vistoapparentlyapparently


por medio depor medio deby means ofby means of

por lo menospor lo menosat leastat least

por lo tantopor lo tantoconsequentlyconsequently

por mi partepor mi parteas for meas for me


por ningún ladopor ningún ladonowherenowhere

por otra partepor otra parteon the other handon the other hand

palabra por palabrapalabra por palabraword for wordword for word

por primera vezpor primera vezfor the first timefor the first time

por separadopor separadoseparatelyseparately


por supuestopor supuestoof courseof course

por suertepor suertefortunatelyfortunately

por todas partespor todas parteseverywhereeverywhere

por todos ladospor todos ladoson all sideson all sides

por últimopor últimofinallyfinally

POR y PARAPOR y PARA "Para" -- in contrast, has relatively fewer uses."Para" -- in contrast, has relatively fewer uses.

Rule: Rule: to indicate destinationto indicate destinationModel: Model: El hombre salió para Madrid.El hombre salió para Madrid.(The man left for Madrid.)(The man left for Madrid.)

Rule: Rule: to show the use or purpose of a thingto show the use or purpose of a thingModel: Model: El vaso es para agua.El vaso es para agua.(The glass is for water.)(The glass is for water.)

Rule: Rule: to mean "in order to" or "for the purpose of"to mean "in order to" or "for the purpose of"Model: Model: Para hacer una paella, primero dore las carnes.Para hacer una paella, primero dore las carnes.To make a paella, first sauté the meats.To make a paella, first sauté the meats.

POR y PARAPOR y PARA Rule: Rule: to indicate a recipientto indicate a recipient

Model: Model: Este regalo es para ti.Este regalo es para ti.(This gift is for you.)(This gift is for you.)

Rule: Rule: to express a deadline or specific timeto express a deadline or specific timeModel: Model: Necesito el vestido para el lunes.Necesito el vestido para el lunes.(I need the dress by Monday.)(I need the dress by Monday.)

Rule: Rule: to express a contrast from what is expectedto express a contrast from what is expectedModel: Model: Para un niño lee muy bien.Para un niño lee muy bien.(For a child, he reads very well.)(For a child, he reads very well.)

Rule: Rule: "estar para" to express an action that will soon be "estar para" to express an action that will soon be completedcompletedModel: Model: El tren está para salir.El tren está para salir.(The train is about to leave.)(The train is about to leave.)

POR y PARAPOR y PARA It is quite important to learn to use these two It is quite important to learn to use these two

prepositions correctly, because if you prepositions correctly, because if you inadvertently substitute one for the other, you inadvertently substitute one for the other, you might end up saying something altogether might end up saying something altogether different from what you had intended. Study the different from what you had intended. Study the two examples:two examples:

Juan compró el regalo para María.Juan compró el regalo para María.Juan bought the gift for Maria.Juan bought the gift for Maria.(he bought it to give to her)(he bought it to give to her)

Juan compró el regalo por María.Juan compró el regalo por María.Juan bought the gift for Maria.Juan bought the gift for Maria.(he bought it because she could not)(he bought it because she could not)


"Por" and "para" can also be used in "Por" and "para" can also be used in questions. "¿Por qué?" means "Why?" (for questions. "¿Por qué?" means "Why?" (for what reason) while "¿Para qué?" means what reason) while "¿Para qué?" means "Why?" (for what purpose)."Why?" (for what purpose).

¿Por qué estudias español?¿Por qué estudias español?For what reason do you study Spanish?For what reason do you study Spanish?

Possible answer:Possible answer: Porque es un requisito.Porque es un requisito.

Because it's required.Because it's required.


¿Para qué estudias español?¿Para qué estudias español?

For what purpose do you study For what purpose do you study Spanish?Spanish?

Possible answer:Possible answer: Para ser profesor de español.Para ser profesor de español.

In order to become a Spanish teacher In order to become a Spanish teacher

Documents

POR y PARA USORMA2008. "Por" and "para" have a variety of meanings, and they are often confused because they can each be translated as "for. “ Gracias