Por vs Para Flashcards
What is the acronym for Para?
PRODDS
Purpose Recipients Opinions Destinations Deadlines Standards
PRODDS: Purpose
Used to indicate a purpose or a goal.
Translation: in order to
PRODDS: Recipients
Used to indicate the recipient of an action or thing.
Translation: for
PRODDS: Opinions
Used to talk about an opinion.
Translation: for, according to
e.g.
Para mí, el español es más romántico que el italiano.
For me, Spanish is more romantic than Italian.
PRODDS: Destinations
Used to indicate the destination or end point of an object or person.
Translation: for
Salgo para Chile esta noche.
I leave for Chile tonight.
PRODDS: Deadlines
Translations: for, by, on
Esta tarea es para mañana.
This homework is for tomorrow
PRODDS: Standards
Used to compare something or someone to a standard, such as cheapness or speed.
Translation: for, considering that
Para ser una tortuga, es muy rápida.
For a turtle, he is very fast.
What is the acronym for Por?
DREEMS
Duration Reasons Emotions Exchanges Mode of communication or transportation Substitutions
DREEMS: Duration
Used to talk about how long it takes something to happen.
Translation: for
DREEMS: Reasons
Used to indicate a reason or motive for doing something.
Translation: because of
Por su amor al español, siempre lo estudiaba.
Because of his love for Spanish, he always studied it.
DREEMS: Emotions
Emotion
Used to indicate the recipient or or cause for an emotional reaction.
Translations: for, towards, at
Tengo tanto amor por ti.
I have so much love for you.
DREEMS: Exchanges
Used to talk about exchanges.
Translation: for
Pagué $60 por estos zapatos.
I paid $60 for these shoes.
DREEMS: Mode of communication or transportation
The manner in which something or someone travels.
Translations: by, on, through
Viajamos por tren a Italia.
We travel by train to Italy.
DREEMS: Substitutions
Used to indicate that someone or something is taking the place of another person or thing.
Translations: for, instead of
Hay una maestra sustituta por la Señora Martinez hoy.
There is a substitute teacher for Mrs. Martinez today.
What does ‘para’ describe and what are 2 of its traits?
Purpose.
– Usually future facing, signalling things to come.
– Usually a sequence of events; one bit of the sentence was the purpose of the other
What is ‘por’ used for and what are 2 of its traits?
Reason (cause)
– Backwards facing, usually describes the cause for something
– Everything usually happens at the same time; the two events occurring in the same sentence are inseparable
Reason vs Purpose: Por
Por is for reason (para is for purpose)
Translated to “because of”.
Estudio español por mi trabajo.
I’m studying Spanish because of my job
Reason vs Purpose: Para
Para is for purpose (por is for reason)
Translated to “in order to”
Estudio español para trabajar en Argentina.
I’m studying Spanish in order to work in Argentina.
Travel vs Destination: Por
Por is for travelling (para is for the final destination)
Describes travelling ‘through’ or ‘around’ a place.
Este autobús pasa por el centro de la ciudad.
This bus goes through the city centre.
El año pasado viajamos por España.
Last year we travelled around Spain.
Travel vs Destination: Para
Para is for the final destination of a journey (por is for travelling)
Este autobús va para el centro de la ciudad.
This bus goes to the city centre.
Duration vs Deadlines: Por
Por describes duration – in other words, how long something lasts (para refers to deadlines)
Can be switched for durante (“during”)
Estudié por (durante) dos horas.
I studied for (during) 2 hours.
Duration vs Deadlines: Para
Para refers to a date in the future such as a deadline (por refers to duration)
Necesito terminar el informe para mañana.
I need to finish the report by tomorrow.
‘By’ someone vs ‘For’ someone: Por
Por is “by” someone (para is “for” someone)
Refers to the agent who did something / caused something
Este puente fue construido por los romanos.
This bridge was built by the Romans.
‘By’ someone vs ‘For’ someone: Para
Para refers to the person something was done for (por is ‘by’ someone)
Compré este libro para mi hermana.
I bought this book for my sister.
