Difference in "Por" and "Para" in Spanish?

Question

I am currently taking a Spanish course online and have been doing pretty well with my studies. As I was studying the chapter we're covering this afternoon, I came across the "por" versus "para" section and between the text book and the notes on my online course became very confused. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to explain the difference to me in easy to understand terns, please! I have an e-mail out to my professor but she is notoriously slow answering e-mails and I wanted to move on with the chapter assignments if I could today as I have a busy week coming up.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Answer 1

Taking the Confusion out of 'Por' and 'Para'

Both Prepositions Can Mean 'For'



By Gerald Erichsen, About.com

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How does one say "for" in Spanish?



Simple question, huh?



Not really. In fact, understanding the answer to that seemingly simple question is one of the more difficult problems facing many Spanish students.



The problem is that two Spanish prepositions, por and para, frequently are used for the English word "for." (Actually, there are number of other words that also can fit the bill, but we won't concern ourselves with them now because they don't seem to be the cause of so much confusion.) The differences between them sometimes are subtle.



If it's any consolation, prepositions can be as difficult for people learning English. Why do we sometimes say something is under control, and sometimes say something is in control? Why are we in the house but at home? The rules sometimes escape logic.



In Spanish, The key to understanding which preposition to use is to think of the meaning you want to convey. If I use a phrase such as "three for a dollar" in English, the "for" has a different meaning than it does in "this book is for you." In the first case, "for" indicates an exchange or a rate, while in the second case it indicates an intention or direction. Thus the Spanish translation of the two phrases are different, "tres por un dólar" and "este libro es para ti."



The following chart shows some of the major uses of these two prepositions.



Uses for por:



Expressing movement along, through, around, by or about: Anduve por las calles de la ciudad. I walked through the streets of the city.



Denoting a time or duration when something occurs. Viajamos por tres semanas. We're traveling for three weeks.



Expressing the cause not the purpose) of an action: Me caí por la nieve. I fell down because of the snow.



Meaning per: Dos por ciento.Two percent.



Meaning supporting or in favor of: Trabajamos por derechos humanos. We work for human rights.



Introducing the agent of an action after a passive verb: Fue escrito por Bob Woodward. It was written by Bob Woodward.



Indicating means of transportation: Viajaré por avión. I will travel by plane.



Used in numerous expressions: Por ejemplo. For example. Por favor. Please.



Uses for para:



Meaning for the purpose of or in order to: Para bailar la bamba, necesita una poca de gracia. In order to dance the bamba you need a little grace.



With a noun or pronoun as object, meaning for the benefit of or directed to: Es para usted. It's for you.



Meaning to or in the direction of when referring to a specific place: Voy para Europa. I'm heading to Europe.



Meaning by or for when referring to a specific time: Necesito el regalo para mañana. I need the gift for tomorrow. Vamos a la casa de mi madre para el fin de semana. We're going to my mother's for the weekend.

Answer 2

The letter V is asserted with the help of putting your proper teeth on your backside lip. B is asserted with the help of pursing your lips, equivalent to the letter P. Yeah, its no longer probable that great. there are a number of words the place it would desire to reason issues i think of. Its no longer a extensive undertaking although, basically that its fairly substantial while human beings do this. in case you won't manage to get it, do no longer complication approximately it yet in my opinion i might attempt somewhat greater. additionally, R continues to be an R despite in case you pronounce it stressful instead of rolled. V and B are 2 completely distinctive letters?

Answer 3

para means for. for example yo compre un carro para ella means i bought a car for her



por means because of. for example yo compre un carro por ella means i bought a car because of her



I hope this helps

Answer 4

i am too old to remember gramatical rules and my english no good, but i ll try to help.

examples. please be careful, i am not using "acentos".



esto es para ti- this is for you

traje esto para que lo veas - i bring it for you to see it



por ejemplo: as example

por favor: please

por que: why





in english you say: this is for you , for her..

in spanish you say esto es para ti, esto es para el, etc





well, too difficult to explain, so i looked it in internet:



As a beginner, it is probably best to learn the two prepositions separately and to think of para as a preposition that usually indicates purpose or destination, rather than simply as a translation for "for." So in the examples of para usage that are given below, a translation (sometimes awkward) using a word or phrase other than "for" is given, in addition to a translation using "for." By learning how para is used rather than how it is usually translated, you will find it easier to learn in the long run.



To mean "in order to": When used in this way, it is followed by an infinitive.



Examples: Viajamos para aprender español. (We travel in order to learn Spanish. We travel for learning Spanish.) Vive para comer. (He lives in order to eat. He lives for eating.)

To indicate purpose, intent, usefulness or need: The preposition can be used quite flexibly in this regard, in many cases being used in such a a way that there is no simple one-word English equivalent.

Examples: Estudia para dentista. (She is studying to become a dentist. She is studying for the dental profession.) Quisiera una bicicleta para dos. (I'd like a bicycle for two. I'd like a bicycle made with the intent that two people use it.) Es hecho para niños. (It is made for children. It is made to be used by children.) El poema fue escrito para su esposa. (The poem was written for his wife. The poem was written with his wife as the intended recipient.) Feliz cumpleaños para ti. (Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday for you.) Tenemos agua para una semana. (We have water for a week. We have water enough to last a week.) ¿Para qué estudias? (Why do you study? For what purpose do you study?)

To indicate a destination: This is a specific way of indicating intention. In some of these cases, para can be used interchangeably with a, meaning "to."

Examples: Salimos para Londres. (We are leaving to go to London. We are leaving for London.) No voy para casa. (I am not going home. I am not headed for home.) ¿Para dónde va el taxi? (Where does the taxi go to?)

To mean "no later than" or "by": As can be seen by the examples, this is another way of indicating intent. In some contexts, para can mean "around" or "about" a certain time.

Examples: La casa estará lista para el sábado. (The house will be ready no later than Saturday. The house will be ready by Saturday. The house will be ready for Saturday.) La casa estará lista para la boda. (The house will be ready by the wedding. The house will be ready before the wedding. The house will be ready for the wedding.) Llegamos para las cinco. (We're arriving around 5. We're arriving about 5.)

To mean "considering" or "in view of":



Examples: Para niño, es inteligente. (Considering that he's a child, he's intelligent. For a child, he's intelligent.) Es caro para un papel. (It's expensive in view of the fact it's a sheet of paper. It's expensive for a sheet of paper.)

To indicate a personal reaction:

Examples: Para ella, es difícil. (To her, it's difficult. For her, it's difficult.) No es justo para mí. (It isn't right to me. It doesn't seem right to me. It isn't right for me.)

With estar to mean "to be about to" or "to be ready to": This phrase is followed by the infinitive.

Examples: Estoy para salir. (I'm ready to leave. I am about to leave.) Estamos para hacer

negocios. (We're ready to do business. We're ready for doing business.)





Por is one of the most useful and common prepositions in Spanish, but it can also be one of the most confusing to English speakers. That is because it is sometimes translated as "for," as is the preposition para, and they are very seldom interchangeable.

As a beginner, it is probably best to learn the two preposition separately and to think of por as a preposition that usually indicates cause or motive, rather than simply as a translation for "for." (It also often means "by," but it isn't the only Spanish preposition translated that way.) So in the examples of por usage that are given below, a translation (sometimes awkward) using a word or phrase other than "for" is given, in addition to a translation using "for" (where appropriate). By learning how por is used rather than how it is usually translated, you will find it easier to learn in the long run.



Here, then, are the most common uses of por:



To indicate the cause of or reason for something: In such usages, por can often be translated as "because of."



Examples: ¿Por qué? (Why? Because of what? For what?) Trabajo aquí