Por vs. Para
In Spanish,porandparaare both prepositions that can often be translated as “for” in English, but they are used in different ways. Understanding the difference betweenporandparais key to using them correctly.
When to Use Por
Poris generally used to express:
- Reason or Cause(because of, due to)
- Movement through a place(along, through, by)
- Duration of time(for, during)
- Exchange or substitution(for, in exchange for)
- Means of communication or transportation(by, via)
- Multiplication and units(times, per)
- Agent in passive voice(by)
Examples of Por
When to Use Para
Parais generally used to express:
- Purpose or goal(in order to, for)
- Recipient(for)
- Deadline or specific time(by, for)
- Destination(toward, for)
- Comparison(for, considering)
- Employment(for)
Examples of Para
Key Differences
Summary
- Useporto talk about reasons, movement through places, duration, exchanges, means, and agents.
- Useparato talk about purposes, recipients, deadlines, destinations, comparisons, and employment.
- Always think about whether the sentence is about the cause or the goal, the process or the outcome, the motive or the destination.
With practice, choosing betweenporandparawill become more intuitive!
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Last updated: Thu Jul 17, 2025