Para vs Por

Question 1

To express time or deadline: “Necesito el vestido _____ el lunes.”

Answer 1

“Necesito el vestido para el lunes.” (“I need the dress by Monday.”)

Question 2

To indicate destination: “El hombre salió _____ Madrid.”

Answer 2

“El hombre salió para Madrid.” (“The man left for Madrid.”)

Question 3

To mean ‘in order to’ or ‘for the purpose of’: “_____ hacer una paella primero dore las carnes.”

Answer 3

“Para hacer una paella primero dore las carnes.” (“To make a paella, first sauté the meats.”)

Question 4

To indicate a recipient: “Esta regalo es _____ ti.”

Answer 4

“Esta regalo es para ti.” (“This gift is for you.”)

Question 5

To express a contrast from what is expected: “_____ un nińo, lee muy bien.”

Answer 5

“Para un nińo, lee muy bien.” (“For a child, he reads very well.”)

Question 6

To show the use or purpose of a thing: “El vaso es _____ agua.”

Answer 6

“El vaso es para agua.” (“This glass is for water.”)

Question 7

To express an action that will soon be complete: “The train is about to leave.”

Answer 7

“Estar para”:

“El tren esta para salir.” (“The train is about to leave.”)

Question 8

To be in the mood for something: “I’m in the mood for drinking coffee.”

Answer 8

“Estar por”:

“Estoy por tomar cafe.” (“I’m in the mood for drinking coffee.”

Question 9

To express caution or reason: “El hombre murió _____ falta de aqua.”

Answer 9

“El hombre murió por falta de aqua.” (“The man died for lack of water.”

Question 10

For multiplication and division: “Dos _____ dos son cuatro.”

Answer 10

“Dos por dos son cuatro.” (“Two times two equals four.”)

Question 11

When talking about exchange, including sales: “Él me dio diez dólares _____ el libro.”

Answer 11

“Él me dio diez dólares por el libro.” (“He gave me ten dollars for the book.”)

Question 12

To express gratitude or apology: “Gracias _____ la ayuda.”

Answer 12

“Gracias por la ayuda.” (“Thanks for the help.”)

Question 13

For velocity, frequency and proportion: “Voy al restaurante cinco veces _____ semana.”

Answer 13

“Voy al restaurante cinco veces por semana.” (“I go to the restaurant five times per week.”)

Question 14

To express a length of time: “Yo estudié _____ dos horas.”

Answer 14

“Yo estudié por dos horas.” (“I studied for two hours.”)

Question 15

Meaning ‘through’, ‘along’, ‘by’, or ‘in the area of’: “Andamos _____ el parque.”

Answer 15

“Andamos por el parque.” (“We walk through the park.”)

Question 16

In cases of mistaken identity, or meaning ‘to be seen as’: “Me tienen _____ loco.”

Answer 16

“Me tienen por loco.” (“They take me for crazy.”)

Question 17

To show the reason for an errand (with ir, venir, pasar, mandar, volver, and preguntar): “Paso _____ ti a las ocho.”

Answer 17

“Paso por ti a las ocho.” (“I’ll come by for you at eight.”)

Question 18

To mean ‘on behalf of’ or ‘in favour of’: “No voté _____ nadie.”

Answer 18

“No voté por nadie.” (“I didn’t vote for anyone.”)

Question 19

For means of communication or transportation: “Prefiero viajar _____ tren y hablar _____ teléfono.”

Answer 19

“Prefiero viajar por tren y hablar por teléfono.” (“I prefer to travel by train and speak by phone.”)

Question 20

In passive constructions: “El libro fue escrito _____ Octavio Paz.”

Answer 20

“El libro fue escrito por Octavia Paz.” (“The book was written by Octavio Paz.”)

Question 21

To express an undetermined or general time, meaning ‘during’: “Se puede ver las estrellas _____ la noche.”

Answer 21

“Se puede ver las estrellas por la noche.” (“He can see the stars during the night.”)

Question 22

When followed by an infinitive to express an action that remains to be completed: “La cena esta _____ cocinar.”

Answer 22

“La cena esta por cocinar.” (“The dinner is yet to be cooked.”)