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Spanish Grammar: Por vs. Para

One of the conundrums of Spanish grammar is por vs. para. When to use them and why one is used versus the other… The dilemma of one too many students learning Spanish. Rather than focusing in on the 50% chance of getting it wrong (versus the 50% chance of getting it right!), learn these simple rules.

Por is a circle

It sounds pretty wild, but por really is (is really) a circle. It is about the reasoning and the means.

  • Communication. Email, phone, and snapchat, por has you covered.
    • Lo llamĆ© por telĆ©fono – I called him on the phone.
    • La contactĆ© por correo electrónico – I contacted her via email.
  • Mode of travel. Your travels will involve por.
    • Viajar por avión/coche/metro – To travel via plane/car/metro). In this case por is the equivalent of via and can be substituted by en.
  • Exchange.
    • ĀæCuĆ”nto pagas por tu telĆ©fono al mes? – How much do you pay for your cell phone every month?
    • As a kid would say to another over lunch: Te cambio mi almuerzo por tu Transformer – I’ll give you my lunch for your Transformer.
  • Substitutions. When you do something in place of someone else.
    • No puedo enseƱar la clase maƱana, Āælo haces por mĆ­?- I cannot teach class tomorrow, could you do it for me?
  • Duration.
    • Mi familia ha vivido en Nueva York por mĆ”s de cuatro dĆ©cadas – My family has lived in New York for more than four decades.
  • Motivation, because of. When speaking of the reason why you do something, use por.
    • Estudio espaƱol por mi novia – I study Spanish because of my girlfriend.
  • Through.
    • Ā El ladrón entró por la ventana – The thief came through the window.
  • Around.
    • El restaurante estĆ” por esta calle – The restaurant is around this street.
  • Pass/go by.
    • Voy a pasar por su casa – I’ll stop by his house. The house is either not the final destination or the speaker will not be spending much time there.
  • By.

Cien aƱos de soledad fue escrito por Gabriel GarcĆ­a MĆ”rquez – One Hundred Years of Solitude was written by Gabriel GarcĆ­a MĆ”rquez.

Examples of common por phrases

  • Por favor – please
  • Por ejemplo – for example
  • Por suerte – fortunately
  • Por supuesto – of course
  • Por supuesto que sĆ­ – yes, of course
  • Por supuesto que no – of course not
  • Por eso – because of that
  • Por quĆ© – why
  • Por cierto – by the way
  • Por ciento – percent
  • Por fin – finally

Para is an arrow

Para is for the end result. It is very specific and direct. In fact, there are only four main uses.

  • Goals, in order to.
    • Estudio para ser doctor – I study to be a doctor.
    • Trabaja mucho para ganar un buen salario – He works a lot to (in order to) earn a good salary.
  • Destination.
    • Este mes voy para CentroamĆ©rica – This month I’m going to Central America.
  • Deadline.
    • La tarea es para el lunes – The homework is for (due) Monday.
  • Recipient, for someone.
    • Este regalo es para ti – This present is for you.

Examples of common para phrases

  • ĀæPara dónde? – where to?
  • ĀæPara quĆ©? – for what?
  • Para que – in order to
  • Para mĆ­ – for me
  • Para ti – for you
  • Para siempre – forever
  • Para variar – for a change (used sarcastically)
  • Para rematar/colmo – to top it all off šŸ™

Now that you know the differences, work on the exercises below.Ā 

  1. Ā  Ā  __________ mĆ­ es muy importante aprender espaƱol – For me it is very important to learn Spanish.Ā 
  1. Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  No es necesario que trabajes tanto solo __________ ganar dinero – It is not necessary that you work so hard only to earn money.Ā 
  1. Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ha viajado __________ barco. Ha sido un viaje muy largo – He has travelled via ship. It’s been a long trip.
  1. Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  El ensayo es __________ la semana que viene – The essay is due next week.
  1. Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā”Hablamos __________ tres horas! – We talked for three hours!
  1. Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Necesito entender la razón. __________ eso quiero hablarte – I need to understand the reason. That’s why I want to speak to you (on the phone).
  1. Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  ĀæBuscas algo __________ aquĆ­? – Are you looking for something around here?
  1. Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Āæ__________ quĆ© quieres comprar tantas cosas? – Why do you want to buy so many things?Ā 
  1. Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  __________ su novia harĆ­a cualquier cosa – He’d do anything for his girlfriend.
  1. Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Mi amor es solo __________Ā  ti – My love is only for you <3

Answers: 1. para; 2. para/por; 3. por; 4. para; 5. por; 6. por; 7. por; 8. para/por; 9. por; 10. para.Ā 

When all fails, remember the odds are in your favor: you have a 50% chance of getting it right! šŸ˜‰

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