Por y Para.

Hello, guys! Today, we are going to talk about two prepositions in Spanish: “por” and “para”. Although they can sometimes confuse us, each has its own specific uses. Let’s see how and when to use each of them.

Uses of “Por”:

• Approximate Time: We use “por” to talk about an approximate duration. For example, “Estudié por dos horas.”

• Approximate Space: We say “por” to indicate an approximate place. For example, “Pasé por tu casa.”

• Cause: We use “por” to explain the reason or cause of something. For example, “No pude venir por la lluvia.”

• Means of Communication: When we talk about the means or tools for communication, we use “por”. For example, “Te lo envié por correo.”

• Medium (through): We also use “por” to indicate that something or someone moves through a place. For example, “Caminamos por el parque.”

• Exchange or Purchase: When we talk about getting something in exchange for something else, we use “por”. For example, “Te doy diez euros por el libro.”

• Distribution: Finally, we use “por” to talk about how something is distributed. For example, “Repartimos tres manzanas por persona.”
  

Uses of “Para”:

• Purpose: We use “para” to talk about the purpose or end goal of an action. For example, “Estudio para aprender.”

• Recipient: When something is intended for someone, we use “para”. For example, “Este regalo es para ti.”

• Direction (final destination): We use “para” to indicate where someone or something is heading. For example, “Salimos para Madrid mañana.”

• Opinion: To express an opinion, we also use “para”. For example, “Para mí, este es el mejor restaurante.”

• Time Limit: When we set a time limit for something, we use “para”. For example, “Necesito el informe para el viernes.”