"Por" and "Para"

Notes:

1. The written lesson is below.
2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

“Por” and “para” have a variety of meanings, and they are often confused because they can each be translated as “for.”

Gracias por la información.
Thanks for the information.

Este regalo es para Juan.
This gift is for Juan.

To learn to use “por” and “para” correctly, you need to do two things:

“Por” has many uses, and so it is the more problematic of the two.

Rule: to express gratitude or apology
Model: Gracias por la ayuda.
(Thanks for the help.)

Rule: for multiplication and division
Model: Dos por dos son cuatro.
(Two times two equals four.)

Rule: for velocity, frequency and proportion
Model: Voy al restaurante cinco veces por semana.
(I go to the restaurant five times per week.)

Rule: meaning “through,” “along,” “by” or “in the area of”
Model: Andamos por el parque.
(We walk through the park.)

Rule: when talking about exchange, including sales
Model: Él me dio diez dólares por el libro.
(He gave me ten dollars for the book.)

Rule: to mean “on behalf of,” or “in favor of,”
Model: No voté por nadie.
(I didn’t vote for anyone.)

Rule: to express a length of time
Model: Yo estudié por dos horas.
(I studied for two hours.)

Rule: to express an undetermined, or general time, meaning “during”
Model: Se puede ver las estrellas por la noche.
(One can see the stars during the night.)

Rule: for means of communication or transportation
Model: Prefiero viajar por tren y hablar por teléfono.
(I prefer to travel by train and speak by phone.)

Rule: in cases of mistaken identity, or meaning “to be seen as”
Model: Me tienen por loco.
(They take me for crazy.)

Rule: to show the reason for an errand (with ir, venir, pasar, mandar, volver, and preguntar)
Model: Paso por ti a las ocho.
(I’ll come by for you at eight o’clock.)

Rule: when followed by an infinitive, to express an action that remains to be completed, use por + infinitive
Model: La cena está por cocinar.
(Dinner has yet to be cooked.)

Rule: to express cause or reason
Model: El hombre murió por falta de agua.
The man died for lack of water.

Rule: “estar por” means to be in the mood, or inclined to do something
Model: Estoy por tomar café.
(I’m in the mood for drinking coffee.)

Rule: in passive constructions
Model: El libro fue escrito por Octavio Paz.
(The book was written by Octavio Paz.)

“Por” also appears in many idiomatic expressions:

por adelantado
in advance

por ahora
for now

por allí
around there; that way

por amor de Dios
for the love of God

por aquí
around here; this way

por casualidad
by chance

por ciento
percent

por cierto
certainly

por completo
completely

por dentro
inside

por desgracia
unfortunately

por ejemplo
for example

por eso
therefore

por favor
please

por fin
finally

por lo general
generally

por lo visto
apparently

por medio de
by means of

por lo menos
at least

por lo tanto
consequently

por mi parte
as for me

por ningún lado
nowhere

por otra parte
on the other hand

palabra por palabra
word for word

por primera vez
for the first time

por separado
separately

por supuesto
of course

por suerte
fortunately

por todas partes
everywhere

por todos lados
on all sides

por último
finally

“Para” — in contrast, has relatively fewer uses.

Rule: to indicate destination
Model: El hombre salió para Madrid.
(The man left for Madrid.)

Rule: to show the use or purpose of a thing
Model: El vaso es para agua.
(The glass is for water.)

Rule: to mean “in order to” or “for the purpose of”
Model: Para hacer una paella, primero dore las carnes.
To make a paella, first sauté the meats.

Rule: to indicate a recipient
Model: Este regalo es para ti.
(This gift is for you.)

Rule: to express a deadline or specific time
Model: Necesito el vestido para el lunes.
(I need the dress by Monday.)

Rule: to express a contrast from what is expected
Model: Para un niño lee muy bien.
(For a child, he reads very well.)

Rule: “estar para” to express an action that will soon be completed
Model: La chica está para dar a luz.
(The girl is about to give birth.)

It is quite important to learn to use these two prepositions correctly, because if you inadvertently substitute one for the other, you might end up saying something altogether different from what you had intended. Study the two examples:

Juan compró el regalo para María.
Juan bought the gift for Maria.
(he bought it to give to her)

Juan compró el regalo por María.
Juan bought the gift for Maria.
(he bought it because she could not)

“Por” and “para” can also be used in questions. “¿Por qué?” means “Why?” (for what reason) while “¿Para qué?” means “Why?” (for what purpose).

¿Por qué estudias español?
For what reason do you study Spanish?

Possible answer:

Porque es un requisito.
Because it’s required.

¿Para qué estudias español?
For what purpose do you study Spanish?

Possible answer:

Para ser profesor de español.
In order to become a Spanish teacher.