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Preocuparse por + verb

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fglorca
February 22, 2015, 02:57 AM
Do we still use ‘por’ even if ‘preocuparse’ is followed by another verb?
• Mi padre se preocupa por mis estudios.
• Mi madre se preocupa por comprar más ropa.

Many thanks in advance.

Suavemente
February 22, 2015, 07:23 AM
Creo que "de" es utilizado en vez de "por" para significar "to be worry about." ¿Me lo podría alguno confirmar?"

fglorca
February 22, 2015, 09:01 AM
Preocuparse por = to worry about
Example:
Me preocupo por mi hermano = I'm worried about my brother.
My question is to clarify if we still use 'por' if a second verb is introduced.
Thanks in advance.

Rusty
February 22, 2015, 04:56 PM
preocuparse por = to worry about (angustiarse/inquietarse)
preocuparse de = to be concerned about; to care about (ocuparse de)

There are those that use por or de when the meaning is 'to worry about' (angustiarse).


In either case, the preposition is always used when the verb is followed by an infinitive (what you're calling a second verb).
An infinitive acts as a noun. (In this role, it is a prepositional object.)

Me preocupo por mi hermano. = I'm worried about my brother (I'm distressed).
Me preocupo por aprobar el examen. = I'm worried about passing the test (stressed because I didn't study enough).
Me preocupo de aprobar el examen. = I'm concerned about passing the test (concerned, so I'm studying hard).

And, in your example about your mother worrying about buying more clothes, it is because she doesn't have the money to do so (she's distressed).