POR and PARA

When to use each one…

POR

• By, by means of

• For = duration

• For = in exchange for, price

• Cause, reason, motive

• Through, along

Por: ejemplos

• Entro la casa por la puerta.– I enter the house by (by means of) the door.

• Tengo español por una hora.– I have Spanish for one hour. (duration)

• Compré la blusa por $40.– I bought the blouse for $40.

• Gracias por su ayuda.– Thanks for your help. (reason)

• Camino por la calle.– I walk along the street.

PARA

• In order to (+ infinitive)

• For = recipient

• For = by (deadline)

• For = destination

• For = employer/use

• For = comparison

Para: ejemplos

• Necesito estudiar para sacar una A.– I need to study to get an A. (in order to)

• El regalo es para mi madre.– The gift is for my mother. (recipient)

• La tarea es para mañana.– The homework is for tomorrow. (deadline)

• Voy para el banco.– I’m going to (headed for) the bank. (destination)

• Uso mi libro para leer.– I use my book to read. (employer/use)

• Para una chica, soy muy alta.– For a girl, I am very tall. (comparison)

Ninguno (neither)

• There are some verbs which use neither PARA nor POR. Here are two which you should know:

• Esperar means “to wait FOR”

• Buscar means “to look FOR”

• Since the word “FOR” is part of the definition of the word, you do NOT use PARA or POR!

Los dos (either)

• Some sentences can use either POR or PARA, but the meaning changes!!

• Example:– Camino __________ el parque.– POR = through– PARA = towards (destination)