Por Vs Para Flashcards
When to use “para”
- to describe a purpose e.g. “in order to” or “to treat or resolve”
- destination of a gift, object
- destination when traveling
- “para qué” meaning “for what purpose”
- for deadlines/events that are not specific to the hour
When to use “por”
- when exchanging/ trading objects for other objects or money
- to do something on behalf of someone else
- after “gracias”
- when identifying mode of transport in which object was sent
- “por qué” adressing the cause of something and looks back to the reason or motivation for the action. “Para qué” is more forward looking.
- motion or approximate location: along, around, by, through
- “because of” when followed by an object
- to indicate a period of time during which something occurs
This present is for you.
Este regalo es para ti.
This drink is for him.
Esta bebida es para él.
I’m leaving for New York tonight.
Salgo para Nueva York esta noche.
Thank you for the jacket.
Gracias por la chaqueta.
Do you want to exchange your cd for my book? / Will you trade your cd for my book? (2 answers)
¿Quieres cambiar tu cd por mi libro? /¿Te cambias tu cd por mi libro? (Informal, shortened version of intercambiarse, which means to swap).
I’m here to help you.
Estoy aquí para ayudarte.
I went there to buy new gloves.
Fui allí para comprar guantes nuevos.
Why do you study spanish? (For what purpose)
¿Para qué estudias español?
Why did the soldier die? (What caused the soldier to die?)
¿Por qué murió el soldado?
Why did the soldier die? (For what purpose did the soldier die?)
¿Para qué murió el soldado?
Why does it snow much more in New York than in Madrid?
¿Por qué nieva mucho más en Nueva York que en Madrid?
I’m by the traffic lights (when still in motion e.g. driving by).
Voy por los semáforos.
I passed by the museum.
Pasé por el museo.
