3.3.5

'Para' or 'Por'

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Para - For

There are two words that mean 'for' in Spanish, but they each have different uses. Here are the uses of 'para':

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Showing purpose or use

  • When used for this reason 'para' can also mean in order to.
    • E.g. Trabajo para ganar dinero.
      • I work in order to earn money.
    • E.g. Este sistema es utilizado para organizar la información.
      • This system is used for organising the information.
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Showing who something is for

  • E.g. Compré este bocadillo para ti.
    • I bought this sandwich for you.
  • E.g. Era un regalo para mí mismo.
    • It was a gift for myself.
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Movement or direction

  • E.g. El avión va para Madrid.
    • The plane is going to Madrid.
  • E.g. ¿Para dónde vas?
    • Where are you going?
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For infinitives and opinion

  • E.g. Para concluir.
    • In order to conclude.
  • E.g. Para ellos.
    • For them (in their opinion).

For - 'Por'

'Por' is the other way to say 'for' in Spanish. It has different uses to 'para'.

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Motivation

  • 'Por' is used to show the motivation or reasons for doing something.
    • Jesus murió por nosotros.
      • Jesus died for us.
    • Me gusta el carne por su sabor.
      • I like meat for its taste.
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For travel and how you contact someone

  • When used for this purpose, 'por' can also means through or by.
    • Seguimos por el camino actual.
      • We continued on the current path.
    • Contacte con nosotros por téléfono o correo electrónico.
      • Contact us by phone or email.
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Exchanging something for something else

  • Te doy treinta libras por la falda
    • I will give you 30 pounds for the skirt.
  • ¿Quieres cambiar tu bolígrafo por mi chicle?.
    • Do you want to trade your pen for my chewing gum?
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To say how long something happens for

  • Tiene que correr por dos horas.
    • He has to run for two hours.
  • Durmieron por diez horas.
    • They slept for ten hours.
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For speed

  • When you are talking about kilometres per hour you need to use 'por'.
    • 60 kilómetros por hora.
      • 60 kilometres per hour.

Jump to other topics

1The Basics

2Current & Future Study & Employment

3Identity & Culture

3.1Me, My Family & Friends

3.2Me, My Family & Friends - Translations

3.3Technology in Everyday Life

3.4Technology in Everyday Life - Translations

3.5Free Time Activities

3.6Free Time Activities - Translations

3.7Customs & Festivals in Spanish Speaking Countries

3.8Customs & Festivals - Translations

4Areas of Interest

4.1Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region

4.2Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region - Translations

4.3Social Issues

4.4Social Issues - Translations

4.5Global Issues

4.6Global Issues - Translations

4.7Travel & Tourism

4.8Travel & Tourism - Translations

5Listening Practice

6Common Tenses

7Important Verbs

8Advanced Tenses

9Extra Grammar

9.1Articles

9.2Negatives

9.3Nouns

9.4Asking Questions

9.5Adjectives

9.6Adverbs

9.7Conjunctions

9.8Pronouns

9.9By, With, From, Of

9.10Verbs

9.11Comparisons

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