Thursday, October 3, 2013

POR vs. PARA

Hola amigos...

After a one month hiatus, I am back with a new Viper Spanish post.  Today, we look at the basic difference between "por" and "para."

PARA basically expresses:

1. Purpose:  ¿Para qué corres todos los días? (Why do you run every day?)

2. Destination:  Ya me fui para San Francisco. (I already left for San Francisco.)

3. Intended for:  Se usa el internet para buscar información.  (The internet is used to look for information.)

4. Sets a limit on time:  Hay que entregar el ensayo para el viernes.  (The essay must be turned in by Friday.)

5. Comparing while considering a fact:  Para una guitarrista, tocas bien el piano.  (For a guitarist,  you play the piano well.)

6. As for:  Para mi, está bien, pero para ella, no sé.  (For me, it's okay, but as for her, I don't know.)

POR expresses:

1. Along/through:  Entró por la puerta y salió por la ventana.  (He entered through the door and left through the window.)

2. Expresses periods of time:  Viví en Téjas por dos meses.  (I lived in Texas for two months.)

3. In exchange for:  Me cobró cincuenta dólares por su autógrafo.  (He charged me fifty bucks for his autograph.)

4. For, as the object of an errand:  Fui al mercado por leche.  (I went to the market for milk.)  [This is different than destination, which uses para, because the word after "for" is not the place of destination, rather the item that is going to be obtained.]

5. For the sake of/on behalf of:  Compré los discos por ti.  (I bought the CD's for you.)
                                      Escribí esta canción por mi país.  (I wrote this song for my country.)

6. Muliplication: Dos por cinco son diez.  (Two times five is ten.)

7. "Per":  Manejaba a 95 millas por hora cuando el policía me detuvo.  (I was driving at 95 miles per hour when the policeman stopped me.)


                                                                                            

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