When to use por and para part II
PARA
–Destino (lugar o persona) Destiny (place or person)
Las flores son para mi madre “the flowers are for my mother”
Voy para el restaurante “I go to the restaurant” , normally when talking about place we can use para or “a”
–Fecha límite Deadline
La tarea de español es para el miércoles “Spanish homework is for Wednesday”
–Opinión Opinion
Para mí la nueva película de Juan es aburrida “For me Juan’s new movie is boring”
–Consideración/Comparación Consideration
Para ser tan jóven es muy reponsable “For being someone that young is very responsible”
–Usos uses
Las pastillas son para la tos “the pills aare for the cough”
POR
–Lugar indefinido indefinide place
¿Está mi bolso por aquí? “Is my bag around here?”
Vivo por el barrio gótico “I live around the barrio gótico”
–Medio means
Te mando las fotos por correo electrónico “I will send you the pictures by email”
Hablamos por teléfono “We talked by phone”
–Precio Price
He comprador un billete de avión por £25 “I have bought a plane ticket for £25”
–Voz pasiva Passive voice
El libro fue escrito por Emma “The book was written by Emma”
–Velocidad Speed
El tren alcanza los 100 km por hora “The train reaches 100 per hour”
–Tiempo exacto exact time
Estudié en Francia por un año “I studied in France for one year”
#trick-we use por when we can use in English
–in exchange of or in behalf of instead of for
Cambio la chaqueta por la falda “I change the jacket for the skirt”
Firmo la carta por mi hermano “I sign the letter in behalf of my brother”
#watchout-normally Spanish expressions use POR , I said normally because there are some excecptions like forever= para siempre 🙂
Some expressions which use por are
por la mañana, por la tarde, por la noche, …. In the morning, in the afternoon, at night
Por favor Please
Por ejemplo For example
Por fin Finally
Por primera vez For the first time
Por si acaso Just in case
Por supuesto Of course
Por suerte Luckily
And a few more
#CUIDADO-watchout
Sometimes we can use both, por and para in the same sentences but using one or another will change the meaning of the sentences, like…
Abro la carta por mi hermano –> It means I open the letter in behalf on my brother, my brother knows I am opening the letter, he allows me to do it.
But…if I say
Abro la carta PARA mi hermano –> In this sentences we just know that the letter is for your brother (receiver) , and you are opening it, which is not really good :S
Or…
Trabajo para mi hermano –> Your brother is your boss.
Trabajo por mi hermano–> Your brother can work for some reason and you are working instead of him.
Like these sentences a few more, just keep in mind the meaning 🙂
I hope you enjoy this post and all your doubts regarding when to use por and para are clear, if you any questions please leave a comment below and I will reply to you asap 🙂
To make sure you got it…some HOMEWORK, take this quiz, it will take you 5 minutes and you can check your learning out! Keep in mind that some uses might be the ones we saw last month 🙂
Also I would love to ask you a favour, if you enjoy the blog please share it! Let’s spread the Spanish language around 🙂 –it is your turn!
Write you soon, in the meanwhile…Be Spanish my friend! 🙂
Hi Bianca.
We say “on behalf of” in English.
Gracias por tu ayuda con por y para.
Arreglado 🙂