¿POR? ¿PARA?esp3

“HOW DO YOU SAY ‘FOR’?”

Just as SER and ESTAR both mean ‘to be’ and CONOCER and SABER both mean ‘to know’, there are TWO ways of saying “FOR”

AND, as with SER or ESTAR and CONOCER or SABER, it is the MESSAGE you are communicating that determines which word is required

OPTIONS?

both PARA and POR mean “FOR” in Spanish, it depends what meaning ‘behind’ “FOR” you are trying to communicate

PARA

Deadline (‘by’ a time) In order to (so that) In the employ of (to work for) Used for (intended use) Destination (for whom intended) In spite of being

Let’s look at each use individually . . .

PARA - - - -DEADLINE (‘BY’ A TIME)

El ensayo es para jueves (The essay is for Thursday) –

The essay is DUE on Thursday, Thursday is the DEADLINE to hand in the essay

La fiesta está para el sábado (The party is Saturday) –

The time/date of the party (deadline) is Saturday

PARA – IN ORDER TO (SO THAT)

Estudia para ser abogada. (She studies in order to be (so that she can be) a lawyer)

PARA demonstrates the PURPOSE

PARA – IN THE EMPLOY OF (WORK FOR) Él trabaja para Xerox (He works for [in

the employ] of Xerox)

PARA – USED FOR (INTENDED USE)

Es una taza para té (it’s a cup for tea [it’s intended use is for tea])

Es una máquina para clasificar cartas (it’s a machine for sorting letters [it was created with the intent of sorting letters])

PARA - - DESTINATION (FOR WHOM INTENDED)

Vamos para la playa (we’re headed for the beach [our destination is the beach])

Este regalo es para Roberto (this gift is for Roberto {the gift is intended for Roberto})

PARA – IN SPITE OF BEING

Habla bien para tener 2 años. (she speaks well in spite of being 2 years old)

This use of PARA is a result of being SURPRISED – that you wouldn’t expect the situation to be what it is

PHRASES CON ‘PARA’

Para sí = for oneself

Para siempre = for always/forever

Para + infinitivo = ‘Just about to’

POR = FOR . . . .

For the sake of (motive) In exchange for ($) Because (reason; due to) To take for/mistake for In place of/ instead of Along, through, by (motion) Per (rate [$], [#]) Extent of time/duration of time By (author/creator) By (transportation)

POR - - FOR THE SAKE OF (MOTIVE)

He venido por el dinero (I’ve come for the money)

Va al trabajo andando por el ejercicio (She walks to work for the exercise)

POR - - -IN EXCHANGE FOR ($)

Pagué $15 por el libro (I paid $15 for the book)

Mi hijo me da una sonrisa por un beso (my son gives me a smile for a kiss)

POR - - -BECAUSE (REASON; DUE TO)

Lo echaron por llegar tarde (they fired him for [due to] arriving late)

Por ser tan amable, te invito a tomar algo (because you’re so nice [due to being so nice], I invite you for a drink)

POR - - - TO TAKE FOR/MISTAKE FOR

Me tomaron por española cuando viví en Valladolid (they mistook me for [thought I was] a Spaniard when I lived in Valladolid)

**TOMAR = to take

POR - - - IN PLACE OF/INSTEAD OF

Susana trabaja por Luisa hoy (Susana is working instead of Luisa today)

Estoy enferma, ¿puedes venir a la reunión por mí? (I’m sick, can you go to the meeting for me?)

POR - - ALONG, THROUGH, BY

Andamos por la playa (we walk along the beach)

Viajamos por Filadelfía (we travel through Philadelphia)

POR - - - PER (RATE)

Ayer, pagué $3.69 por galón de gasolina (yesterday, I paid $3.69 per gallon of gas)

Te pagan $7.25 por hora (they pay you $7.25 per hour)

POR - - -EXTENT OF TIME (DURATION) Rebekah estará en Orizaba, México por

10 semanas (Rebekah will be in Orizaba, México for 10 weeks)

POR - - - ‘BY’ (AUTHOR/CREATOR)

El Quijote fue escrito por Cervantes (Quijote was written by Cervantes)

Guernica fue pintado por Picasso (Guernica was painted by Picasso)

POR - - - ‘BY’ (TRANSPORTATION)

No me gusta viajar por barco (I don’t like to travel by boat)

Van a Nueva York por autobús (they travel to New York by bus)

POR - - -UNAS FRASES

Por fin = finally Por lo menos = at least Por ejemplo = for example Por toda (mi/tu/etc) vida = for all

(my/your) life Por Dios = my God! Por casualidad – by chance Por lo tanto = therefore

POR - - -MÁS FRASES

Por supuesto – of course, naturally Por eso = therefore, for that reason Por ningún lado = no where Por lo general = generally