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For - 'Por' & 'Para'

Spanish: AQA A Level, topic 17.3.1

Para - For

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

Showing purpose or use

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.
Showing who something is for

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.
Movement or direction

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?
For infinitives and opinion

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. 'Por' has different uses to 'para'.

Motivation

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.
For travel and how you contact someone

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.
Exchanging something for something else

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?
To say how long something happens for

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.
For speed

For speed

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

Test yourself on For - 'Por' & 'Para'

  • Complete the translation with the right preposition: ¿Quieres cambiar tu chocolate ____ mi chicle?

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