Para vs Por

[bleitzow]

Can someone explain when to use "para" versus "por"?

Thanks!

[Tomisimo]

I think there are some other threads about this somewhere here. I'll try to find them. In the meantime....


I'll do this for you - Lo haré para tí. (you are the beneficiary)
I'll do this for you - Lo haré por tí. (I'm doing it in your place)

Think of para as passing the benefit fo the action to the other person. Think of it as directional. Indeed you can even use it like this:

Voy para la ciudad. - I'm going into town.

Think of por as causitive (for the cause of the other person, you're doing something.) Por also means 'by', 'because of' etc.

escrito por ... written by
No vino por (a causa de) la lluvia - He didn't come because it was raining.


Hope that helps a bit.

[bleitzow]

Thanks David! I did try to do a search but I guess I didn't do it right. It seemed to pull up everything that had "para" in it, and I didn't want to read all those.

Thanks again!

[Tomisimo]

I did a search too, and didn't find much of anything either. Maybe I'm just not remembering right . Anyway, I'm writing up a post comparing por and para. I should have it ready in a little bit.

[bleitzow]

Escrito originalmente por Tomisimo

I did a search too, and didn't find much of anything either. Maybe I'm just not remembering right . Anyway, I'm writing up a post comparing por and para. I should have it ready in a little bit.

Hi David! Were you able to write this up? I just did a search and didn't get anything. Is it posted somewhere?

Thanks!

[poli]

To get to the airport I go through the city.
Para llegar al aeropuerto voy por the ciudad.i

"por" means by way of, by means of. or a less used for in English. If it weren't for you I woud be poor. Si no fuera por ti estaría pobre.

"para" is the more common for in English. The gift is for you. El regalo es para ti.

por favor, please or as a favor.
para un favor él hizo una contribución al partido en fuerza. In order to receive a favor he contributed to the political party in force.

[pogo]

can't wait to read that, por and para are two very incredibly confusing words.

[bleitzow]

I agree. Just when I thought I had it figured out from David's explanation, my lesson showed me I was wrong!