Lesson 24 - Compras (Shopping)
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Pages in this lesson: Shopping - Para/Por - Dialogue - Reading - Quiz
This page: Learn the difference between the prepositions para and por (for) in Spanish. Also, learn the prepositional pronouns.
para/por
Grammar Lesson
The prepositions para and por can be very confusing for English-speakers because they both translate as "for." In this lesson, we will talk about the differences between these two words.
para
In general, the word para is used to indicate a purpose or destination. Let's break this down and see some examples.
para - purpose
When para is used with a verb to express purpose, it could be translated as "in order to." When para is used with a noun to express purpose, it could be translated as "to be used for."
- para = in order to (with a verb)
- Estoy usando cupones para ahorrar dinero.
I'm using coupons to save money.
(I'm using coupons in order to save money.) - para = to be used for (with a noun)
- El dinero es para la renta.
The money is for rent.
(The money is to be used for rent.)
para - destination
The word para can also be used to express a destination. It can indicate who something is to be given to (who it is for) or where something is going to (its direction or destination).
- para = to be given to
- El regalo es para mi hermana.
The gift is for my sister.
(The gift is to be given to my sister.) - para = toward (with a location)
- Los niños van para la escuela.
The children are going toward the school.
(The children are going in the direction of the school.)
para - deadline
The word para can be used with a day or future time to indicate the deadline.
- para = by (deadline)
- Tengo que terminar con el proyecto para el lunes.
I have to finish with the project by Monday.
para - compare to others or express an opinion
The word para can be used to compare to others or express an opinion.
- para = for (compare to others, in relation to others)
- Para un niño pequeño, es muy maduro.
- For a young child, he is very mature.
- para = for (opinion)
- Para ella, la clase es muy fácil.
- For her, the class is very easy.
- (In her opinion, the class is very easy.)
Practice
Section 1
Before we move on to por, let's practice a little more to reinforce your learning of the uses of para. Read the sentences below and chose the reason why para is used.
por
por - reason, cause
The word por is generally used to explain a reason or cause. In these sentences, por could be translated as "because of" or "due to."
- por = because of, due to
- Estoy nervioso por el examen.
- I'm nervous because of the test.
por - in (the morning, afternoon, night)
The word por can be used with la mañana (the morning), la tarde (the afternoon) or la noche (the night). In Latin America you can also use en in these sentences (en la mañana, en la tarde, en la noche).
- por = in, at (the morning, afternoon, night)
- Camino por la mañana.
- I walk in the morning.
- Trabajo por la tarde.
- I work in the afternoon.
- Veo la televisión por la noche.
- I watch television at night.
por - in exchange for, in place of
- por = in exchange for
- Tienes que pagar cinco dólares por el libro.
- You have to pay five dollars for the book.
- (You have to pay five dollars in exchange for the book.)
- por = in place of
- Como ella no está aquí, puedo hablar por ella.
- Since she isn't here, I can speak for her.
- (Since she isn't here, I can speak in place of her.)
The word por is used with gracias (thanks, thank you) when you want to explain what you are thanking them for.
- gracias por = thanks for
- Gracias por todo.
- Thanks for everything.
por - through, along (location)
The word por can be used as "through" or "along" with locations.
- por = through
- Ella está caminando por el campo.
- She is walking through the field.
- por = along
- Ella está caminando por la acera.
- She is walking along the sidewalk.
por - by, by means of
The word por can be used as "by" with the meaning of "by means of."
- por = by, by means of
- Mi mamá va a viajar a Francia por tren.
- My mom is going to travel to France by train.
- Mi papá está enviando la información por correo.
- My dad is sending the information by mail.
You can also use por as "by" to indicate who did something in the passive form.
- por = by (passive)
- El libro está escrito por un autor famoso.
- The book is written by a famous author.
por - duration of time (optional)
Generally in Spanish, no word is used as "for" when you talk about a duration of time. If you use a word in these situations, it would be por.
- por = for (duration of time)
- Mis amigos van a estar en mi casa tres días.
- - or -
- Mis amigos van a estar en mi casa por tres días.
- My friends are going to be at my house for three days.
Special expressions with por
There are also some special expressions with por. A few common ones are listed in the table below.
| Expression with por | Translation |
|---|---|
| por ejemplo | for example |
| por favor | please |
| por supuesto | of course |
| por fin | finally |
| por lo menos | at least |
Practice
Section 2
Now let's practice to reinforce your learning of the uses of por before we combine the two prepositions. Read the sentences below and chose the reason why por is used.
Practice
Section 3
Now let's practice with both prepositions together in the following exercise. Select para or por for each of the following sentences.
Prepositional Pronouns
Prepositional pronouns are pronouns that are used after a preposition like para and por. Most of the pronouns are the same as the subject pronouns. The only ones that change are mí and ti.
| Prepositional Pronoun | Translation | |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | ► mí | me |
| ► ti | you (informal, singular) | |
| ► usted | you (formal, singular) | |
| ► él | him | |
| ► ella | her | |
| Plural | ► nosotros (masculine), ► nosotras (feminine) | us |
| ► vosotros (masculine), ► vosotras (feminine) Used in Spain only | you (informal, plural) | |
| ► ustedes | you (plural) | |
| ► ellos (masculine), ► ellas (feminine) | them |
Practice
Section 4
Fill in the blank with the correct prepositional pronoun (the translation of the English prepositional pronoun).
- The gift is for _____. = El regalo es para _____.
Find the mistake in the sentence and re-write it correctly in the space. Don't forget to use correct capitalization, accents and punctuation, or the computer will mark it as incorrect.
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Writing
Write three sentences with para and three with por. If you want to type a special character (like an accented letter) in the comments section, you could do one of the following . . .
- Select and copy the character that you need → á é í ó ú ü ñ ¿ ¡ Á É Í Ó Ú Ü Ñ « »
- Use special codes on your computer if you have numeric keypad (instructions HERE).
- Type your sentences into the text box below and use the special character buttons provided. Then select and copy your text and paste it into the comments section.
If you see an error in someone else's sentence, please respond with the correction. Comments that are not from "Janet Castrejon" (the author of this page) do not represent Simplified Spanish. If someone is writing inappropriate comments on this webpage, please send a message to [email protected] and include the page that you saw the comment on.
Lesson 24 - Compras (Shopping)
Shopping - Para/Por - Dialogue - Reading - Quiz
Important Links
Pronouns - Pronunciation - Verbs
