Para or Por

[tony]

I need some basic guidelines in the usage of para and por.

Necesito unas directivas basicas del uso de para y por. Cuando se usa o dice para y cuando se usa o dice por? Gracias.

Please correct my first attempt at posting a question in Spanish (self study 2 months). Thanks.

[Fazor]

StudySpanish.com tiene un pagina buena sobre el tema aquí.

Y un otra pagina buena está aquí. (About.com)

[irmamar]

Basically, you can use "por" as a cause, and "para" as a finality. I'll explain more detailed in Spanish, if you don't mind:

- Para
Destino: El mes que viene parto para Lisboa.
Propósito: Este regalo es para ti.
Objetivo: Estudia para ser abogado
Comparación: Hablas muy bien español, para ser inglés
Futuro: Tengo que estudiar esta lección para mañana

- Por:
Tiempo: Me han hecho un contrato por un mes
Intercambio: ¿Cuánto me paga por el coche?
A través: Iremos por la nueva autopista
Esfuerzo: Trabajó toda su vida por sus hijos
Averguación: ¿Sabes quién ha preguntado por ti?
Frecuencia: Voy al gimnasio dos días por semana
Motivo: Robaron por hambre
Modo de ejecución: Envíalo por correo aéreo
Lugar o fecha indeterminados: Su casa está por ahí. Estuvo aquí por un tiempo.

For instance, you can see the difference:

Yo voy para Madrid (= hacia Madrid)
Yo voy por Madrid (paseo por Madrid, estoy ahí)

I hope it'll be helpful

[Fazor]

One thing that always tripped me up is that I always wanted to use 'por' as a translation of the word 'for', because they sound so similar. But 'para' is used for that.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Fazor

One thing that always tripped me up is that I always wanted to use 'por' as a translation of the word 'for', because they sound so similar. But 'para' is used for that.

Translation: 'para' se usa para eso.

And a thought from mine: Para traducir 'for', puedes usar para y por. (a little poem)

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Fazor

One thing that always tripped me up is that I always wanted to use 'por' as a translation of the word 'for', because they sound so similar. But 'para' is used for that.

Not always.

Originally Posted by irmamar

Translation: 'para' se usa para eso.

And a thought of mine: Para traducir 'for', puedes usar para y por. (a little poem)

As irmamar reminds us, 'por' is the correct translation of 'for' in some instances.
Gracias por la ayudas mnemotécnicas (memory aids), irmamar.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Not always.

As irmamar reminds us, 'por' is the correct translation of 'for' in some instances.
Gracias por la ayudas mnemotécnicas (memory aids), irmamar.

You're welcome

Me das las gracias por (cause) algo que sirve para (finality or purpose) algo.

'Memory aids', I think once you told me, but I had forgotten. Thanks.

[brute]

mnemotécnicas

Is there a mnemonic to remember the spelling of this word?

[CrOtALiTo]

I have other examples of the use of the word Para.

Para que veas.

Para que vas.


Para que te veas.

This are short examples, you can use into of the Spanish, I hope these examples can help you.

[Rusty]

In many languages (although not in English, in most instances), the letter n is pronounced as if it were the letter m when it is followed by a labial consonant (i.e., b, m, p, and v). There is also a spelling convention, which is what you were stating, that the letter n is changed to an m before those consonants.

The spelling convention isn't always followed, like in the word inconveniente, but the pronunciation rule is. This word is pronounced as if an m appeared before the v.
Here are more examples:

Convencer is pronounced combencer.
Conmigo is pronounced commigo.
Enmascarar is pronounced emmascarar.
Sinvergüenza is pronounced simbergüenza.
Tan bien is pronounced exactly like the word también.
En piezas is pronounced exactly like the word empiezas.