Unit 6.2
Differences between Por and Para
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Introduction
Prepositions [preposiciones] are invariable words that introduce elements in a sentence and create relationships between them.
Por is used to explain the cause or reason for something.
Para refers to the purpose of an action.
Form
Por and para, being prepositions, are invariable words.
Example
Por:
- No he ido al gimnasio por mi cansancio;
- La invitación fue repartida por el gerente de la discoteca;
- Se tomaron una caña y fueron felices por siempre jamás;
- Podrás encontrar el zoo por allí, a las afueras;
- Podemos ir de excursión al monte cruzando por este sendero;
- Te vendo una entrada por veinte euros;
- Cuando juegan a las cartas suelen contar los puntos por medio de garbanzos;
- Por la mañana van a la ópera y por la tarde al gimnasio;
- Marta está por ir a la exposición, pero no se decide;
- Te cambio esta entrada del concierto por tus cromos;
- Han desviado el acceso por esta otra calle mientras realizan obras en la piscina.
Para:
- Voy al gimnasio para estar cuadrado;
- He comprado este regalo para Javi, es una foto enmarcada de su iglesia favorita;
- Vamos para Sevilla de excursión, ¿te vienes?
- Para mí que han quedado sin ti;
- Quiero ir a tomar algo, así que para las cuatro tengo que estar saliendo de casa;
- El ensayo es para el doce de julio, así que hay que entregarlo antes de ese día; después tendremos tiempo libre;
- Cuando fuimos a tomar un café nos dieron mesa para cuatro.
Use
Por and para are two prepositions that are used with different functions and for various purposes.
Por
Por is used to talk about:
- cause, motive or reason for an action;
- agent (the one who acts) in passive sentences;
- space of time;
- approximate or transit place;
- place through which one passes;
- price;
- means by which something is done;
- parts of the day;
- when we are about to do something;
- substitution;
- path/way and approximate location, which may be temporal (in a spatial sense).
Para
Para is used to talk about:
- purpose and objective of action (with infinitive);
- addressee or destination in a spatial and temporal sense;
- destination;
- opinion (often used with noun/complementary personal noun);
- precise time location;
- end of a period of time;
- usefulness and orientation.
Summary
In Spanish, por and para are used for different purposes. Por is used to explain the cause or reason for something, while para refers to the purpose of an action.
For example:
— «Al final no hice comida por falta de tiempo». = Por expresses the cause of something;
— «Hoy he trabajado más para dejar las cosas hechas». = Para describes the purpose of an action.
Check the contents of the {Form} section. Then move on to the {Example} section, which shows you the usage in context.
Related
Prepositions are invariable words that introduce elements in a sentence and create relationships between them.
Por is used to explain the cause or reason for something. Para refers to the purpose of an action.
- At the B1 level, the content on causal and final sentences introduced by these prepositions can be deepened.
Exercises
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