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 casa | he is saving in order to buy a house. |
| llamaré para confirmarlo | I 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 oigan | I 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 salón | I 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 Londres | They 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 siempre | forever |
| 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 16 | it have to be ready by the 15th |
| La lección para mañana... | The class for tomorrow |
| COMPARISON | |
| Es alto para su edad | he 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 llover | It 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 lluvia | The 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 cardíacos | Pinochet remains in hospital due to heart problems. |
| Por ganar la competición recibió un premio | He 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 aire | Fly through the air |
| Pasar por el mercado | Go through the market |
| Pasa por aquí | Come this way |
| Pasa por allí | go that way (over there) |
| miró por la ventana | he looked out of the window |
| EXCHANGE OR IN PLACE OF | |
| Puedes cambiarlo por otro | You can change it for another one. |
| lo dejó por otro | she 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 pueblo | The planes flew over the village |
| WITH THE PASSIVE (BY) | |
| El puente fue construido por los romanos | The 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 menos | at least |
| 2 veces por semana | twice a week |
| por casualidad | by chance |
| por completo | completely |
| por escrito | in writing |
| por una parte | on the one hand |
| por otra parte | on the other hand |
| por supuesto | of course |
| por lo visto | apparently |
| por mí | as far as I am concerned |
| por malo que sea... | however bad it is... |
| por desgracia... | unfortunately |
| 100 euros por barba | 100 euros per head |
| me echaron por el desvío | they led me up the garden path |
| por eso..... | for this reason.... |
| aprobó el examen por los pelos | he 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 acaso | just in case |
| por lo tanto | therefore |
| por mucho que me ofrecieras, no lo haría | I wouldnt do it, however much you offered |
| perdón por llegar tarde, me quedé dormido | sorry for arriving late, I overslept |
| por favor | please |