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POR y PARA
Grammatical explanation of when and how to use por/para

POR and PARA: a grammatical explanation of the difference

If you ask an English speaking person what they think is the most difficult thing in Spanish, they will normally say SER and ESTAR, the subjunctive, and POR and PARA. We have looked at the first two, so after this word of the month, it should be plain sailing from here. The problem is that POR and PARA can often be translated by the English FOR which is a vast simplification and this can lead to you saying some very strange things if you don't understand the difference.

PARA
Spanish
English
IN ORDER TO
Para can come before an infinitive that explains the purpose of the main verb:
In many cases this would answer the question "What did you do it for?"
eg. I went to the bank in order to take out some money.
In English the "para" would be translated as "to, in order to, so as to, in order not to, so as not to.
Fui al banco para sacar dinero I went to the bank to take out some money.
está ahorrando para comprarse una casahe is saving in order to buy a house.
llamaré para confirmarloI will call in order to confirm it.
Tienes que abrir el sobre con cuidado para no romper el cheque.You have to open the envelope carefully so as not to damage the cheque.
cerré la puerta para que no nos oiganI closed the door so that they wouldn't hear us.
INTENDED FOR
Para is used for purpose. In these cases "para" would be translated as "for, for the purpose of, intended for"
Compré una mesa para el salónI bought a table for the living room. (intended for)
¿para qué lo quieres?What do you want it for? (for what purpose do you want it)
Un regalo para su novio A present for her boyfriend (intended for)
DESTINATION
Salen para LondresThey are leaving for London
empuja para arriba push upwards
FOR LENGTH OF TIME
Necesito una habitación para 6 noches I need a room for 6 nights
para siempreforever
IN TIME PHRASES TO SPECIFY A FUTURE MOMENT IN TIME
lo necesito para mañana I need it by tomorrow
tiene que estar listo para el día 16it have to be ready by the 15th
La lección para mañana...The class for tomorrow
COMPARISON
Es alto para su edadhe is tall for his age
No sudas mucho para una chica muy grande.You don't sweat much for a big lass.
a "piropo" (flattering comment) in the north of England)
TO BE ABOUT TO (note in South American they also use por)
Está para lloverIt is about to rain

 

POR
Spanish
English
BECAUSE OF
In general terms:
"Por" is used to explain the reason or cause of an action.
Whereas "para" is used to explain the purpose of an action.

These examples may clarify this.

POR: Tuvimos que cerrar la ventana por los mosquitos
We had to shut the windows because of the mosquitos
Note: If you translate "por" as "for" in this sentence it really doesn't
make sense.

PARA: Tuvimos que cerrar la ventana para que no entraran los mosquitos
We had to close the windows so that the mosquitos wouldn't come in.
Note: that when we use "para que no" it is normally followed by the subjunctive.
El partido, ha quedado cancelada por la fuerte lluviaThe match was cancelled due to the heavy rain.
lo conseguimos por ella we got it thanks to her. (We got it because of her)Note: If we said "lo conseguimos para ella"
It would probably mean "we got it for her" (so that she could use it)
Pinochet sigue hospitalizado por problemas cardíacosPinochet remains in hospital due to heart problems.
Por ganar la competición recibió un premioHe got a prize for winning the competition.
No lo digo por mí.I am not saying it for my own sake.
MOVEMENT THROUGH SPACE
Volar por el aireFly through the air
Pasar por el mercadoGo through the market
Pasa por aquíCome this way
Pasa por allígo that way (over there)
miró por la ventanahe looked out of the window
EXCHANGE OR IN PLACE OF
Puedes cambiarlo por otro You can change it for another one.
lo dejó por otroshe left him for another man
¿cuánto pagaste por la casa?How much did you pay for the house.
PREPOSITIONS AFTER VERBS OF MOVEMENT
los aviones volaban por encima del puebloThe planes flew over the village
WITH THE PASSIVE (BY)
El puente fue construido por los romanosThe bridge was built by the Romans.
EXPRESSIONS.
There are hundreds of expressions which use por. Even if you are bored by the difficulties between "por" and "para" these expressions will come in very useful.
¡Por Dios!Oh, my God! (For God's sake!)
¡por fin!at last!
por lo menosat least
2 veces por semanatwice a week
por casualidadby chance
por completocompletely
por escritoin writing
por una parteon the one hand
por otra parteon the other hand
por supuesto of course
por lo visto apparently
por mías far as I am concerned
por malo que sea...however bad it is...
por desgracia...unfortunately
100 euros por barba100 euros per head
me echaron por el desvíothey led me up the garden path
por eso.....for this reason....
aprobó el examen por los peloshe only just passed the exam
por lo que he oido judging by what I've heard
¿por qué lloras?Why are you crying?
Note: por qué (2 words) is "why" but porque (1 word) is because
por si acasojust in case
por lo tantotherefore
por mucho que me ofrecieras, no lo haría I wouldn’t do it, however much you offered
perdón por llegar tarde, me quedé dormidosorry for arriving late, I overslept
por favor please