Por and para Flashcards
To master the distinction between 'por' and 'para'
For ‘por’ try using ‘because of’, ‘through’ or ‘by’ (‘por’ comes from inside):
- Está triste por la muerte de su padre.
- Paseamos por el parque.
- Escrito por Juan Fernández
Turn over for ‘para’
For ‘para’ try using ‘in order to’ or ‘intended for’ (as an objective or destination)
* Tengo poco dinero para divertirme
* He comprado un regalo para su esposa
Turn over for ‘por’
Para: Purpose / goal (‘in order to’)
These glasses are for seeing up close
Purpose / goal
Exeter Session 4
Estas gafas son para ver de cerca
Purpose / goal
Para: Tiempo/Futuro próximo:
I have to finish this work by the first
Deadline (fecha de entrega)
Exeter Session 4
Tengo que terminar este trabajo para el día 1
Deadline (fecha de entrega)
Para: Opinión:
For me the best thing would be to paint the house now
Opinion holder
Exeter Session 4
Para mí lo mejor sería pintar la casa ahora
Opinion holder
Para: Destinatario (i.e. recipient):
I have bought a t-shirt for Carmen
Recipient (destinatario)
Exeter Session 4
He comprado una camiseta para Carmen
Recipient (destinatario)
Para: Dirección/Destino:
Are you going to Exeter. I am going to London tomorrow.
Destination (destino)
Exeter Session 4
¿Vas para Exeter? Yo voy para Londres mañana
Destination (destino)
Para: Desigualdad (i.e. disparity):
- For being so intelligent, he doesn’t have good marks
Disparity / despite
Exeter Session 4
Para ser tan inteligente no tiene buenas notas
Disparity / despite
Por: Causa/Razón/Motivo:
I don’t do sport through (because of) laziness
Cause (Causa/Razón/Motivo)
Exeter Session 4
No hago deporte por pereza
Cause (Causa/Razón/Motivo)
Por: Medio:
They sent me the shoes by post
Medium of transmission (by, through)
Exeter Session 4
Me enviaron los zapatos por correo
Medium of transmission (by, through)
Por: Medio:
We speak through Facebook
Medium of transmission (by, through)
Exeter Session 4
Hablamos por facebook
Medium of transmission (by, through)
Por: Medio:
The thief entered through the window
Medium of transmission (by, through)
Exeter Session 4
El ladrón entró a casa por la ventana
Medium of transmission (by, through)
Por: Lugar (de paso/aproximado - through / around):
We pass through the park everyday
To express transitional movement: along, up, down, in, into, through …
Exeter Session 4
Pasamos por el parque todos los días
To express transitional movement: along, up, down, in, into, through …
Por: Lugar (de paso/aproximado - of passage/around):
Juan’s house is around here
Approx. location / place
Exeter Session 4
La casa de Juan está por aquí
Approx. location / place
Por: Precio/Intercambio:
I (have) bought a jersey for 20 pounds
Price / exchange (Precio/Intercambio)
Exeter Session 4
He comprado un jersey por 20 libras
Price / exchange (Precio/Intercambio)
Por: Precio/Intercambio:
I’m trading (I trade) my jacket for yours
Price / exchange (Precio/Intercambio)
Exeter Session 4
Te cambio mi chaqueta por la tuya
Price / exchange (Precio/Intercambio)
Por: For the duration of …
I return home for Christmas
For the approximate duration of /around; OR because of
Exeter Session 4
Vuelvo a casa por Navidad
For the approximate duration of; or because of
Por: Periodo de Tiempo:
I work at night
Time period / duration (periodo de tiempo)
Exeter Session 4
Trabajo por la noche
Time period / duration (periodo de tiempo)
Por: Periodo de Tiempo:
I go to the gym two times a (per) week
Speed, rate, frequency
Exeter Session 4
Voy al gimnasio dos veces por semana
Speed, rate, frequency
Por: multiplication
Two times two is four
Multiplication
Dos por dos son cuatro
He studies a lot in order to pass the exams with good marks
Purpose / goal (‘in order to’)
Pasos 2
Estudia mucho para aprobar los exámenes con buenas notas
Purpose / goal (‘in order to’)
Luis is rich but he works (because he needs) to do something
Cause (Causa/Razón/Motivo)
Pasos 2
Luis es rico, pero trabaja por hacer algo
Cause (Causa/Razón/Motivo)
She bought many balloons for her son’s party
Recipient (destinatario)
Pasos 2
Compró muchos globos para la fiesta de su hijo
Recipient (destinatario)
This serves no purpose
Purpose / goal
Pasos 2
Esto no sirve para nada
Purpose / goal.
CAUTION (from Helí): No sirves para nada = you are useless
He doesn’t go into the street for fear of the theives
Cause (Causa/Razón/Motivo)
Pasos 2
No sale a la calle por miedo de los ladrones
Cause (Causa/Razón/Motivo)
We have to put on the air conditioning because it is very hot (lit. ‘for the heat it is doing’)
Cause (Causa/Razón/Motivo)
Pasos 2
Tenemos que poner el aire acondicionado por el calor que hace
Cause (Causa/Razón/Motivo)
My sister works for (is employed by) my father
Employed by
Pasos 2
Mi hermana trabaja para mi padre
Employed by
My sister works for (on behalf of or because of) my father
Substitution / on behalf of
U3A discussion
Mi hermana trabaja por mi padre
Substitution / on behalf of
This street is only for pedestrians
Purpose / goal
Pasos 2
Esta calle es solo para peatones
Purpose / goal
They missed the flight (plane) because of the traffic
Cause (Causa/Razón/Motivo)
Pasos 2
Perdieron el avión por culpa del tráfico
Cause (Causa/Razón/Motivo)
He bought a big car (in order) to travel with the whole family
Purpose / goal (‘in order to’)
Pasos 2
Compró un coche grande para viajar con toda la familia
Purpose / goal (‘in order to’)
This tool is for pulling out nails
To indicate use/purpose (not cause)
Exacto!
Esta herramienta es para sacar clavos
He has bought a beautiful pearl necklace for his wife
Recipient (destinatario)
Exacto!
Ha comprado un hermoso collar de perlas para su esposa
Recipient (destinatario)
The ship is bound for Buenos Aires
Destination / destino
Exacto!
El barco va para Buenos Aires
For us, holidays are extremely important
Shows holder of an opinion
Exacto!
Para nosotros, las vacaciones son importantísimas
I don’t work for the love of it (art) but for money
Cause (Causa/Razón/Motivo)
Exacto!
No trabajo por amor al arte sino por dinero
Cause (Causa/Razón/Motivo)
He sold the painting that he discovered in his loft for a fortune
Price / exchange (Precio/Intercambio)
Exacto!
Vendió el cuadro que descubrió en la buhardilla por un dineral
Price / exchange (Precio/Intercambio)
The ambassador signed the business pact on behalf of the president
Substitution (on behalf of)
Exacto!
La embajadora firmó el tratado commercial por el presidente
Substitution / on behalf of
I spoke to him yesterday on the phone
Medium of transmission (by, through)
Exacto!
Ayer hablé con él por teléfono
Medium of transmission (by, through)
Finally I sent him the parts by plane
Medium of transmission (by, through)
Exacto!
Finalmente le envié las piezas por avión
Medium of transmission (by, through)
It can only be obtained by force
Express manner or way something is done: ‘using’, ‘by’
Exacto!
Solo se puede obtener por la fuerza
As far as she’s concerned, we’d go tomorrow
Express personal commitment / opinion ‘as far as … is concerned’
Exacto!
Para ella iríamos mañana
Express personal commitment / opinion ‘as far as … is concerned’
The speed limit on Spanish motorways is 120 kmph
Speed, rate, frequency
Exacto!
El límite de veldocidad en las autopistas españolas es 120km por hora
Speed, rate, frequency
She was coming down the stairs when we were going up
To express transitional movement: along, up, down, in, into, through …
Exacto!
Ella bajaba por la escalera cuando nosotros subíamos
To express transitional movement: along, up, down, in, into, through …
He hesitated for several hours before making a decision
To express approximate duration: ‘for the duration of’
Exacto!
Dudó por algunas horas antes de tomar una decisión
It now seems that that picture was not painted by Romero de Torres but by another unknown artist
To introduce the agent in a passive construction: by
Exacto!
Ahora parece que ese cuadro no fue pintado por Romero de Torres sino por otro artista desconocido
To introduce the agent in a passive construction: by
He put a bird-feeder in the garden for (because of) his children
Cause (Causa/Razón/Motivo)
Exacto!
Puso un comedero en el jardín por sus hijos
Could you call your sister for me?
Substitution / on behalf of
Exacto!
¿Podrías llamar a tu hermana por mi?
Substitution / on behalf of
He bought a bird feeder for his mother
Recipient (destinatario)
Exacto!
Compró un comedero para su madre
Recipient (destinatario)
Memory - by Juan Fernández
Authored by
Recuerdo
Recuerdo - por Juan Fernández
I left the house to go to school / college
Recuerdo
Salí de casa para ir al colegio
It was as if someone had come up from behind to give me a fright
Recuerdo
Fue como si alguien hubiera llegado por detrás para darme un susto
Por: distribution (e.g. per person)
Three biscuits per person
Per person etc…
Tres galletas por persona
I did it because of you
Annie
Lo hice por ti
Thank you for coming
Annie
Gracias por venir
Thank you for your help
Annie
Gracias por tu ayuda
We fight for freedom
Annie
Luchamos por la libertad
She made a sacrifice for her family
Annie
Ella hizo un sacraficio por su familia
I’m going to do it for you (on behalf of you)
Annie
Voy a hacerlo por ti
The painting was created (painted) by Picasso
Annie
El cuadro fue pintado por Picasso
The song was peformed by a famous singer
Annie
La canción fue interpretada por un famoso cantante
The book was written by García Márquez
Annie
El libro fue escrito por García Márquez
We travelled along the coast
Annie
Viajamos por la costa
I walked (caminar) through the park
Annie
Caminé por el parque
I sent (mandar) the letter by post
Annie
Mandé la carta por correo
We talked by telephone
Annie
Hablamos por teléfono
We travelled by plane
Annie
Viajamos por avión
I study in the morning
Annie
Estudio por la mañana
He used to work in the afternoon
Annie
Trabajaba por la tarde
I study in the evening / night
Annie
Estudio por la noche
They asked about you at (in) the party
Preguntar is often followed by ‘por’
Annie
Preguntaron por ti en la fiesta
You sent it to me by post
Enviar is often followed by ‘por’
Annie
Me lo enviaste por correo
I study to learn Spanish
Purpose
Annie
Estudio para aprender español
I work to earn money
Purpose / aim
Annie
Trabajo para ganar dinero
This gift is for Ana
Annie
Este regalo es para Ana
This message is for all the students
Annie
Este mensaje es para todos los estudiantes
The homework is for (due by) Monday
Annie
La tarea es para el lunes
The project is due by Friday
Annie
El proyecto es para el viernes
I need the report by tomorrow
Annie
Necesito el informe para mañana
In my opinion it’s a good idea
Opnion
Annie
Para mí, es una buena idea
In my opinion, this film is excellent
Opinion
Annie
Para mí, esta película es excelente
For her, this job is ideal
Opinion
Annie
Para ella, este trabajo es ideal
I leave early in order to avoid the traffic
Annie
Salgo temprano para evitar el tráfico
I study to pass the test
Annie
Estudio para aprobar el examen
Despite studying Spanish for (just) one year, you speak very well
As ‘despite / even though’
Annie
Para llevar un año estudiando español, hablas muy bien
I stopped by (at) the shop
Miguel - Nov 2024
Pasé por la tienda
To get the wrong end of the stick
Collins idioms
Tomar el rábano por las hojas
To spare no expense
Collins idioms
Tirar la casa por la ventana
To pull a fast one on somebody
Collins idioms
Dar a alguien gato por liebre
Personal a. Por = exchange.
Then he runs through the street (in order) to warn everyone
Pollito Tito
Luego corre por la calle para avisarle a todos
Not for all the gold in the world
Exchange
¡Ni por todo el oro del mundo!
I missed the six o’clock bus by five minutes
By
Juan Paelleras
Perdí el autobús de las seis por cinco minutos.
up-front / in anticipation of
por anticipado
