Unit 24 (Unidad 24) Prepositions por and para (Las preposiciones por y para)
Level 1 ´ 1.1 Basic differences between para and por (Diferencias basicas entre para y por) ´ 1.2 Basic uses of para (Usos basicos de para) ´ 1.3 Basic uses of por (Usos basicos de por)
1.1 Basic differences between para and por The two Spanish prepositions para and por cause a great deal of confusion, partly because they can sometimes be translated by the same English preposition for. They are treated apart from the other prepositions since, by comparing and contrasting them, it is hoped that you will be able to distinguish between them more clearly. The first most important feature that separates them is that para indicates direction or purpose while por indicates cause or an act performed on behalf of or through someone. Three contrastive examples will illustrate this point. i
Mi hermana tiene un e-mail para m´ı Mi hermana escribe un e-mail por m´ı
My sister has an e-mail for me (and is waiting to give it to me, for example) My sister writes an e-mail for me (i.e. on my behalf or because I do not do it myself)
Vamos para las monta˜nas Vamos por las monta˜nas
Let’s head towards the mountains Let’s go through the mountains
Dale el dinero para el carro
Give him the money for the car (i.e. so that he can buy it) Give him the money for the car (i.e. in exchange for)
Dale el dinero por el carro
ii A further example containing both prepositions in the same sentence will make the difference even clearer:
Mi hermano hizo la tarea por m´ı para la maestra
My brother did my homework for me for the teacher
In this sentence, por suggests on behalf of while para suggests destination. We shall firstly consider the uses of para and then those of por. 220