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Spanish Grammar: Por & Para
POR AND PARA
The prepositions por and para, both correspond to the English for, thus making it difficult to tell which one to use in Spanish. Both have their definite uses and cannot be interchanged without altering the meaning of a sentence. In order to reduce this confusion, it is important to know the following rules.
USES OF POR
It is used to express for whose sake or on whose account an action is done.
Lo hará por su amigo.
He will do it for his friend.
Lo hice por Ud.
I did it for you. (for your sake)
Ruega por nosotros.
Pray for us.
El abogado habló por el acusado.
The lawyer spoke for the accused. (on his behalf)
It is used to express the agent by whom an action is performed.
El libro fue escrito por mi hermano.
The book was written by my
brother.
La comida fue preparada por la cocinera.
The meal was prepared by the cook.
It is used to express the duration of time during which an action is done.
Ud. ha leído por tres horas.
You have read for three hours.
Permaneceré en Méjico por dos meses.
I shall stay in Mexico for two months.
Él ha vivido allí por mucho tiempo.
He has lived there for a long time.
It is used to express the amount for which something is bought, sold, or exchanged.
Lo compraron por seis pesos.
They bought it for six pesos.
Vendí el libro por un peso.
I sold the book for a dollar.
Déme el lápiz por la pluma.
Give me the pencil for the pen.
Gano dos pesos por día.
I earn two pesos a day.
Cuestan quince centavos por libra.
They cost fifteen cents per pound.
It is frequently used to express the means of transportation.
Le gusta viajar por avión.
She likes to travel by plane.
It is used to express by, through, for, or along.
Él entró por la puerta.
He entered through the door.
Demos un paseo por el parque.
Let us take a walk through the park.
It is used to express manner or means.
Llevó al niño por la mano.
He led the child by the hand.
Me sacó el dinero por fuerza.
He got the money from me by (means of) force.
It is used to translate in or at in connection with divisions of the day.
Le veré por la tarde (la noche).
I shall see him in the afternoon (at night).
It is used to express cause or reason.
Ana no sale por estar mala.
Anna is not going out because she is ill.
It is in used the following expressions: ir por (to go for); venir por (to come for); enviar por (to send for); estar por (to be in favor of).
Él va por el médico.
He is going for the doctor.
Vengo por lo del anuncio.
I've come about the advertisement.
Envió por el cura.
He sent for the priest.
Estoy por quedarme.
I'm for staying. (in favor of)
Estaba por confesarlo, pero se calló.
He was about (inclined) to admit it, but he kept quiet.
It is used in an exclamation.
¡Por amor de Dios!
For the love of God!
¡Por Dios!
For heaven's sake!
It is used to express an opinion.
Si lo tienen por tonto se equivocan.
If they consider him a fool, they are making a mistake.
A veces los locos pasan por sabios.
At times crazy people pass for wise men.
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USES OF PARA
It is used to express purpose for which an action is taken.
Voy a Barcelona para ver a mis hijos.
I'm going to Barcelona to see my children.
Trabajo para ganarme la vida.
I work to earn my bread.
It is used before the person for whom something is intended.
Esta lección no es para mí.
This lesson is not for me.
Este regalo es para ti.
This gift is for you.
Este libro es para Juan.
This book is for John.
It is used to express destination.
Salgo para Boston.
I am leaving for Boston.
Salió para su hacienda ayer.
He left for his ranch yesterday.
Saldrá para Europa.
He will leave for Europe.
With the verb estar, para expresses to be about to in the sense of being ready.
Estoy para salir.
I am about to leave.
Estoy para entrar.
I am about to enter.
It is used to indicate the purpose for which a thing is intended.
Este cántaro es para el vino y ése para el agua.
This pitcher is for the wine and that one for the water.
Este estante es para revistas.
This shelf is for magazines.
una taza para café
a cup for coffee
It is used to express some future time or to indicate a "deadline," often in the sense of by or for.
Preparen la lección para el lunes.
Prepare the lesson for Monday.
Nos citamos para la próxima semana.
We made an appointment for next week.
Dejémoslo para mañana.
Let us leave it for tomorrow.
Tenga el carro listo para esta tarde.
Have the car ready by this afternoon.
It is used to express comparisons.
Para un regalo no cuesta demasiado.
For a gift it's not too expensive.
Para un extranjero tú sabes mucho de nuestra literatura.
For a foreigner you know quite a bit about our literature.
It is used to express considering the fact that.
Para principiante, toca muy bien.
For a beginner, he plays very well. (compared to other beginners)
Fui para ver a mi hermana.
I went to see my sister.
Lo traje para cambiarlo.
I brought it to exchange it.
No pude venir con él.
I couldn't come with him.
("In order to" would not make sense here so no para.)
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Idiomatic Expressions with por
por todas partes (everywhere)
Buscamos a la niña por todas partes.
We looked for the child everywhere.
por consiguiente (therefore)
No estudiaba nada; por consiguiente, no aprobó sus exámenes.
He didn't study at all; therefore, he didn't pass his examinations.
por dentro (inside) and por fuera (outside)
La caja por dentro es de madera y por fuera de aluminio.
The box inside is of wood and outside of aluminum.
por ejemplo (for example)
Por ejemplo, ¿qué clase de música le gusta?
For example, what kind of music does she like?
por eso (therefore)
Habíamos gastado el dinero; por eso, volvimos a casa.
We had spent the money; therefore, we returned home.
por lo general (in general)
Por lo general es buen estudiante.
In general he is a good student.
por lo menos (at least)
Por lo menos prepara bien sus lecciones.
At least he prepares his lessons well.
por supuesto (of course)
Por supuesto, iré con ustedes.
of course, I'll go with you.
por la mañana (tarde, noche) (in the morning, afternoon, evening)
Tenemos clases por la mañana y por la tarde.
We have classes in the morning and in the evening.
por otra parte (on the other hand)
Él es honesto pero, por otra parte, es muy astuto.
He is honest but, on the other hand, he is very shrewd.
por fin (finally)
Por fin llamaron.
Finally they called.
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Idiomatic Expressions with para
para entonces (by then, by that time)
Ya habrá terminado para entonces.
She will have finished by then.
para con (towards, to)
Se mostró muy amable para con todos.
He was very kind towards everybody.
para que (so that)
Me iré para que podáis estar solos.
I'll go so that you may be alone.
¿para qué? (what for?)
¿Para qué es este botón?
What's this button for?