Por vs. Para
Mastering Spanish Prepositions: “Por” vs. “Para”
Tabla de Contenidos
Learning Objectives
When learning Spanish, one of the trickiest challenges is understanding when to use “por” and when to use “para.” Both prepositions translate to “for” in English, but their meanings and usage contexts are different. Let’s dive in and clear up this common confusion.
Por
“Por” is generally used to express:
1. Cause or Reason (because of)
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estudio español por mi trabajo. | I study Spanish for my job. |
2. Duration of Time (for, during)
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viví en México por dos años. | I lived in Mexico for two years. |
3. Exchange or substitution (in exchange for)
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Te doy diez euros por el libro. | I'll give you ten euros for the book. |
4. Movement through or around (through, along, around)
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caminamos por el parque. | We walked through the park. |
5. Means of communication or transportation (by, via)
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hablamos por teléfono. | We spoke on the phone. | ||
| Viajamos por tren. | We travel by train. |
6. Expressions
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| por ejemplo | for example | ||
| por supuesto | of course | ||
| por favor | please |
Para
“Para,” on the other hand, usually expresses:
1. Purpose or Goal (in order to)
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estudio para aprender. | Study to learn. |
2. Recipient (for someone)
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Este regalo es para ti. | This gift is for you. |
3. Deadline (by a specific time)
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| La tarea es para mañana. | The task is for tomorrow. |
4. Destination (toward)
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vamos para Madrid. | We are on our way to Madrid. |
5. Opinion or Comparison
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Para mí, el español es fácil. | For me, Spanish is easy. | ||
| Para su edad, corre rápido. | For his age, he runs fast. |
Comparison
| **Por** | **Para** |
|---|---|
| Reason or cause | Purpose or goal |
| Duration | Deadline |
| Exchange | Recipient |
| Through, along, around | Destination |
| Means of communication/transport | Opinion or Comparison |
Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Exercise 2: True or False
Decide if the preposition used in each sentence is correct (true) or incorrect (false):
Necesito terminar esto para mañana.
Te cambio mi camiseta para tu gorra.
El tren pasa por Barcelona.
Compré flores por mi novia.
Exercise 3: Multiple Choice
Choose the best answer among the four options:
1. Caminé ___ el bosque para relajarme.
2. Estudio español ___ viajar a España.
3. Lo hice ___ amor.
4. La tarea es ___ el viernes.
Tips
- Use por if you’re looking backward at reasons, causes, or exchanges.
- Use para if you’re looking forward toward goals, deadlines, or purposes.
Conclusion
Mastering the use of por and para takes practice, but with consistent study and repetition, it quickly becomes second nature. Review this article frequently and practice with sentences you create yourself. Soon, using por and para correctly will feel completely natural.
¡Buena suerte!