Los usos de por y paraLos usos de por y paraP.3P.3

Las differencias Las differencias

POR and PARA are usually translated as FOR in English. But they cannot be used interchangeably. Usually one must use one or the other. If both can be used, the meaning changes as well.

Yo trabajo para Ud. (recipient: as in you are my boss.)

Yo trabajo por Ud. (replacement: I’m taking your place.)

P.U.R.F.E.C.T.

Use PARA when talking about:

Purpose or goal: “in order to” (+ infinitive) Use or to show purpose Recipient Future dates, deadlines, destination Employment (who you work for)Comparison and opinionToward a specific place

(perfect with the letter u)

Salta líneas para dejar espacio paralos ejemplos.

Purpose

Purpose: “in order to”: used together with an infinitive.

Estudio para sacar buenas notas.

Hago ejercicios para ponerme en forma.

Use or to show purpose

El jabón es para lavarse las manos.Soap is for (for purpose of) washing your hands.

Esta pluma no sirve para nada.This pen serves no purpose.

Recipient

Recipient: the person or entity that receives something:

Este regalo es para ti.

Future dates, destinations, and deadlines

Esta tarea es para mañana y el proyecto es para el lunes.

Lo necesito para las tres. I need it by three.

Mañana salgo para California. Tomorrow I leave for California.

Employment

Trabajo para un restaurante mexicano.

Trabaja para Burger King.

He works for Burger King.

Comparison and opinion

(Comparison)

Para un niño de cinco años, lee y escribe muy bien.

(Opinion)

Para mí, los derechos humanos son muy importantes.

In my opinion, human rights are very important.

Toward

Toward a specific place

Camina para el parque.

Para quePara que means “so that” and is ALWAYS followed by the

subjunctive

Ex: Ven a mi casa a las 8:00 para que podamos llegar a tiempo.

Come to my house at 8:00 so that we can get there on time.

PARA Song (London Bridge)

Destined, recipient, place, and dateIn order to, comparisonWho you work for, opinionPurpose, use PARA.

What about ‘por’?What about ‘por’?

Essentially, por is used in all instances when P.U.R.F.E.C.T. does not apply.

However, if you like to collect acronyms, here is one to use with por: I.M. A.T.R.A.C.T.E.DThis acronym covers many, but not all, of the main uses of por. There are many idiomatic expressions that use por.

I.M. A.T.R.A.C.T.E.D. (with one T)

Use POR when talking about: (Salta líneas) In favor of / on behalf ofMeans of by which something is done, by, by way of

Around a place or around hereThrough a place, along, by etc. Reason or motive (because of or for the sake of)As in “going to get something” (+ noun)Cost / Per ThanksExchange / substitution / in place of Duration or approximate time (during)

In favor of / on behalf of

No voté por nadie

I didn’t vote for anyone.

La firmo por Ud.

I am signing it on your behalf.

Means of by which something is done, by, by way of

Fuimos por avión. We went by plane.

Lo llamé por teléfono. I called him on the phone (by phone).

El libro fue escrito por Cervantes. The book was written by Cervantes.

Around

Around a place

¿Hay un banco por aquí?

Through, along, and by etc.

Caminamos por el parque esta mañana.

We walked through the park this morning.

Pasé por tu casa ayer.

I went by your house yesterday.

Reason (because of or for the sake of)

¿Por qué llegaste tarde?

Por el tráfico. (reason)

No pudo participar por el accidente. He couldn’t participate (because of) the accident.

Ella trabaja por sus hijos. She works for (the sake of) her children.

As in “going to get something” + noun

Voy al supermercado por pan y leche.

Fuimos a la tienda por galletas. We went to the store for (to get) cookies.

Pasamos por ella ayer pero no estaba allí.We went to get her yesterday but she wasn’t there.

Cost & Per

Pagué $20 por esta chaqueta.

I paid $20 for this jacket.

Yo gano siete dólares por hora.

I earn seven dollars per hour.

Ella necesita tres papeles por estudiante.

She needs three papers per student.

Thanks

Thanks: use por after “gracias.”

Gracias por la ayuda.

Exchange/ substitution/ in place of

Juan trabajó por José porque estuvo enfermo.

Juan worked for José because he was sick.

Duration or approximate time(during)

He vivido aquí por más de diez años.

Estuve allí por tres semanas.

I was there for three weeks.

Lo hicimos por la noche.

We did it during the night.

Idiomatic ExpressionsPor ahora for nowPor aquí around herePor eso thereforePor ejemplo for examplePor fin finallyPor lo generalin generalPor supuesto of coursePor último lastly

POR Song (Three Kings)

“por” o “para”1. Yo viajé ____ tren.2. Mi novia y yo caminamos _____

la playa durante la noche.3. ¿Estás listo _____ salir?4. ____ un norteamericano, habla

bien el español.5. Fuimos al mercado _____ carne.

por by/ means of

por/para through/toward

para in order to

para comparison

por “as” in to to get something.