Spanish Prepositions Por vs Para

Prepositions - Por vs Para

The Many Uses of Para

Purpose - for - in order to

Necesita una mesa para estudiar.
He needs the table to study.

Es un buen libro para leer.
It is a good book to read.

Quiero el dinero para ir al cine.
I want the money to go to the movies.

Fui a la tienda para comprar pan.
I went to the store to buy bread.

Destination in Space - toward - for

Salimos para Europa.
We left for Europe.

Ven para acá.
Come over here.

Destination in time, deadline - by

La composición es para el lunes.
The composition is due on Monday.

Intended Recipient - for

Hice la comida para ti.
I cooked the meal for you.

Escribí el resumen para la profesora de español.
I wrote the summary for the Spanish professor.

Employment - for

Juan trabaja para su hermano.
Juan works for his brother.

Daniel trabaja para Nieto y Cia.
Daniel works for Nieto & Co.

Comparison with the Norm - for - considering

Para buenas películas no hay como este canal.
For good movies, there’s no channel like this one.

Para ser un extranjero, habla muy bien.
For (Considering he is) a foreigner, he speaks very well.

The Many Uses of Por

Reason - why

¿Por qué los quieres?
Why do you want it?

Agent - by

Los exámenes son corregindos por los profesores.
The tests are corrected by professors.

El presidente es elegido por los votantes.
The President is chosen by voters.

Rate - by, per

Pagan por hora.
They pay by the hour.

El límite es sesenta y cinco kilómetros por hora.
The speed limit is sixty miles an hour.

Exchange - for

Mi hermano pagó cinco mil dólares por el caballo.
My brother paid five thousand dolars for the horse.

General Location - around

La clase es por aquí.
The class is around here.

Ellos trabajan por aquí.
They work around here.

Passage, Route - by way of - through - along, etc.

Yo siempre voy a Mendoza por Chile.
I always go to Mendoza by way of (through, via) Chile.

Caminamos por la playa toda la tarde.
We walked along the beach the whole afternoon.

Approximate Time, Passage of Time - for - in

Patricio trabajó aquí por varios (durante) meses.
Patricio worked here for several months.

Nos visita por la tarde.
She visits us in the afternoon.

Choice - in favor of, for

El pueblo votó por el candidato republicano.
The people voted for the Republican candidate.

Cause - because of

Hago esto por mi hermano, no por mí.
I do this because of my brother, not me.

Motive for - for the sake of

Diviértanse por mí.
Enjoy for me.

Háganlo por sus padres.
Do it for your parents. Do it for your parents sake.

Substitution for - in place of

Ayer Andrés trabajó por su hermano.
Andrés worked for (in place of) his brother yesterday.