{"id":765,"date":"2022-06-26T20:15:16","date_gmt":"2022-06-26T20:15:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.escuela-hablamos.com\/?p=765"},"modified":"2022-06-27T08:36:49","modified_gmt":"2022-06-27T08:36:49","slug":"por-vs-para-which-one-to-use","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escuela-hablamos.com\/es\/por-vs-para-which-one-to-use\/","title":{"rendered":"Por<\/em> vs Para<\/em>: Which one to use?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let\u2019s take a look at what both por and para mean and how we can become more accurate when using them in Spanish<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
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Sometimes, learning Spanish is a piece of cake (est\u00e1 chupado<\/b>), and on other occasions there are bits of grammar which can seem like a real headache. Por <\/b>and para<\/b> are two tiny words which can, at first, seem very confusing, but once you get the hang of how to use them they are extremely useful. I know when I first starting studying Spanish I used to get into a bit of a mess with which one to use, but to be fair, native speakers are always sympathetic with language learners and will attempt to understand through the context<\/b>.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Por or para? The eternal question<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
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Both por<\/b> and para<\/b> can be translated as for<\/i><\/b> <\/i>in lots of situations, but they can mean many other things as well. They are used in a lot of expressions, verb structures and as prepositions with particular times as well as in a myriad of other structures. When deciding which one to use, it\u2019s important to think about the meaning of the whole phrase<\/b> you want to say and not translate word for word<\/b>. When learning any language, individual translations often don\u2019t help you construct real phrases. The best way to help you see the difference is through examples<\/b>. Take a look at the tables below to get a better feel for these important words.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Uses of \u2018para\u2019<\/span><\/h3><\/div>
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Spanish<\/b><\/td>\nEnglish<\/b><\/td>\nReason<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Es para<\/b> ti<\/td>\nIt\u2019s for<\/b> you<\/td>\nDestination (e.g. of a gift)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Estoy ahorrando para<\/b> comprar un coche<\/td>\nI’m saving to<\/b> buy a car<\/td>\nPurpose (e.g. in order to)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Juan va para<\/b> la casa de su amiga<\/td>\nJuan is going to<\/b> his friend’s house<\/td>\nIntention\/Destination (e.g. of movement)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tengo que estar en la fiesta sorpresa para<\/b> las 6 de la tarde<\/td>\nI have to be at the surprise party by<\/b> 6pm<\/td>\nWith time phrases<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
La silla es para<\/b> sentarse, no para poner los pies<\/td>\nThe chair is for<\/b> sitting on, not for putting your feet on<\/td>\nAn object\u2019s use or purpose<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Estamos para<\/b> salir<\/td>\nWe\u2019re are about<\/b> to go out<\/td>\n\u201cEstar para\u201d means \u201cto be about to\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Uses of \u2018por\u2019<\/span><\/h3><\/div>
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Spanish<\/b><\/td>\nEnglish<\/b><\/td>\nReason<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hablo con mi madre por<\/b> tel\u00e9fono todos los d\u00edas<\/td>\nI speak with my mum by<\/b> phone every day<\/td>\nHow you communicate with someone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
El metro no pasa por<\/b> mi barrio<\/td>\nThe metro doesn\u2019t go through\/via<\/b> my neighbourhood<\/td>\nMoving \u201cthrough\u201d somewhere<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Olvid\u00e9 hacerlo por<\/b> no apuntar la tarea en mi lista<\/td>\nI forgot to do it because<\/b> I didn\u2019t write the task on my list<\/td>\nThe cause or reason for an action<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Me gusta tomar un vermut por<\/b> la tarde<\/td>\nI like to have a vermouth in\/during<\/b> the afternoon<\/td>\nGeneral time meaning \u201cduring\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Te doy 10 euros por<\/b> el libro<\/td>\nI\u2019ll give you 10 euros for<\/b> the book<\/td>\nAn exchange<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Comer por<\/b> comer<\/td>\nEat for the sake of it<\/b><\/td>\nTranslates as \u201cfor the sake of\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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The tables above give you some clear examples of how to use these important prepositions. When learning Spanish, you really should try to speak as much as possible and practise<\/b> using them through trial and error<\/b>. Nobody ever got better at anything without making a few (or lots of!) mistakes along the way. It\u2019s vitally important that you get into the habit of writing down<\/b> new examples of language as you see and hear them so that you can incorporate<\/b> phrases into your own speech and writing. Both por<\/b> and para<\/b> appear all the time in Spanish and so you\u2019ll have plenty of chances to use them and hear them used.
\nLittle by little (poco a poco<\/b>) you\u2019ll become more fluent<\/b> in Spanish by just trying your best<\/b> and giving it a go<\/b>.<\/p>\n<\/div>

To learn more about por and para, as well as all other aspects of Spanish language and culture, come join us here at Hablamos<\/mark> \u2013 you won\u2019t regret it!<\/span><\/h3><\/div>
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