Differences Between ‘Para’ and ‘Por’ in Spanish
This section explains the Differences Between ‘Para’ and ‘Por’ in Spanish. In Spanish, both ‘para’ and ‘por’ can mean "for", but they are used in different contexts. Understanding their correct usage is essential for fluency.
Foundation Tier: Basic Uses of ‘Para’ and ‘Por’
| English Meaning | Spanish | Example Sentence (English) | Example Sentence (Spanish) |
|---|---|---|---|
| For (a recipient) | Para | This gift is for you. | Este regalo es para ti. |
| For (a purpose) | Para | This book is for studying. | Este libro es para estudiar. |
| In order to | Para | I study to learn. | Estudio para aprender. |
| Towards (destination) | Para | I am leaving for Madrid. | Salgo para Madrid. |
| By (a deadline) | Para | The homework is for Monday. | Los deberes son para el lunes. |
| Because of | Por | I did it because of you. | Lo hice por ti. |
| Through / Along | Por | We walk through the park. | Caminamos por el parque. |
| Around | Por | There is a café around here. | Hay un café por aquí. |
| By (means of transport) | Por | We travel by train. | Viajamos por tren. |
| Per | Por | I earn £10 per hour. | Gano 10 libras por hora. |
Higher Tier: Advanced Uses of ‘Para’ and ‘Por’
| English Meaning | Spanish | Example Sentence (English) | Example Sentence (Spanish) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Considering / Despite | Para | For his age, he is very mature. | Para su edad, es muy maduro. |
| About to | Para | The train is about to leave. | El tren está para salir. |
| Expressing opinion | Para | For me, Spanish is easy. | Para mí, el español es fácil. |
| Exchange (in return for) | Por | I paid £5 for the book. | Pagué 5 libras por el libro. |
| Duration of time | Por | I lived in Spain for two years. | Viví en España por dos años. |
| Passive voice (by) | Por | The book was written by Cervantes. | El libro fue escrito por Cervantes. |
| Motive / Reason | Por | We fight for freedom. | Luchamos por la libertad. |
Key Differences Between ‘Para’ and ‘Por’
| Use | Para | Por |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Estudio para aprobar. (I study to pass.) | ❌ |
| Recipient | Este regalo es para ti. (This gift is for you.) | ❌ |
| Deadline | La tarea es para mañana. (The homework is for tomorrow.) | ❌ |
| Destination | Voy para Madrid. (I’m going to Madrid.) | ❌ |
| Exchange | ❌ | Te doy £5 por el libro. (I give you £5 for the book.) |
| Cause / Reason | ❌ | No salí por la lluvia. (I didn’t go out because of the rain.) |
| Through / Along | ❌ | Caminamos por el parque. (We walk through the park.) |
| Means of transport | ❌ | Viajamos por avión. (We travel by plane.) |
Key Tips for Remembering ‘Para’ vs ‘Por’
✔ Use ‘para’ for purpose, recipient, deadlines, and destination.
✔ Use ‘por’ for cause, exchange, means of transport, and duration.
✔ If you can replace "in order to" with the word, use ‘para’.
✔ If you can replace "because of" with the word, use ‘por’.
These revision notes will help you with ‘para’ and ‘por’ for both foundation and higher tiers.
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