Reference · module 23
Por, para and the rest
Everything this module explains, on one page.
Para: where it is heading
Use para for purpose, destination and deadline.
- para points forward. Purpose: Estudio para aprender. Destination: Salgo para Madrid. Recipient: Es para ti.
- A deadline is para: Lo necesito para el lunes. That is by Monday, not during Monday.
- para also frames an opinion: Para mí, es un error. And a comparison against expectation: Para su edad, corre mucho.
The mistake you are about to make
Lo necesito por el lunes.
Lo necesito para el lunes.
"By Monday" is a deadline, and por looks like by. A deadline takes para.
Por: what lies behind
Use por for cause, exchange and passage.
- por points back at a cause: Lo hice por ti. Gracias por venir. Something already there explains the action.
- It also covers exchange: Lo compré por veinte euros. Te cambio el mío por el tuyo.
- And movement through or around: Paseamos por el parque. Vive por aquí. Neither one names a destination.
The mistake you are about to make
Gracias para venir.
Gracias por venir.
"Thanks for coming" has for, and para looks like for. Thanks are for a reason, and a reason is por.
The pairs that decide it
Choose between por and para in the same sentence.
- Lo hago por ti means I do it because of you. Lo hago para ti means I do it so that you get it.
- Trabajo por él means I am covering his shift. Trabajo para él means he is my employer.
- ¿Por qué? asks the reason and ¿Para qué? asks the purpose. The answers are porque and para.
The mistake you are about to make
¿Para qué no viniste?
¿Por qué no viniste?
The question is about the reason, and para qué asks about the purpose. Why, as a reason, is por qué.
Verbs that own a preposition
Learn the preposition as part of the verb.
- Some verbs take de and it never changes: acordarse de, olvidarse de, depender de, tratar de.
- Others take en: pensar en, confiar en, insistir en, tardar en. Pensar de exists but asks for an opinion instead.
- And a group takes a: empezar a, aprender a, ayudar a, volver a. volver a means to do it again.
The mistake you are about to make
Pienso de ti.
Pienso en ti.
"Think of you" brings de along. Thinking about somebody is pensar en; pensar de asks for an opinion.