1. POR and PARA When to use each one…

2. POR By, by means of For = duration For = in exchange for, price Cause, reason, motive Through, along

3. Por: ejemplos Entro la casa por la puerta. –I enter the house by (by means of) the door. Tengo español por una hora. –I have Spanish for one hour. (duration) Compré la blusa por $40. –I bought the blouse for $40. Gracias por su ayuda. –Thanks for your help. (reason) Camino por la calle. –I walk along the street.

4. PARA In order to (+ infinitive) For = recipient For = by (deadline) For = destination For = employer/use For = comparison

5. Para: ejemplos Necesito estudiar para sacar una A. –I need to study to get an A. (in order to) El regalo es para mi madre. –The gift is for my mother. (recipient) La tarea es para mañana. –The homework is for tomorrow. (deadline) Voy para el banco. –I’m going to (headed for) the bank. (destination) Uso mi libro para leer. –I use my book to read. (employer/use) Para una chica, soy muy alta. –For a girl, I am very tall. (comparison)

6. Ninguno (neither) There are some verbs which use neither PARA nor POR. Here are two which you should know: Esperar  means “to wait FOR” Buscar  means “to look FOR” Since the word “FOR” is part of the definition of the word, you do NOT use PARA or POR!

7. Los dos (either) Some sentences can use either POR or PARA, but the meaning changes!! Example: –Camino __________ el parque. –POR = through –PARA = towards (destination)