Por vs Para (Time period)

[fglorca]

In the sentences below, can 'por' and 'para' be interchanged?
I've always understood the correct term to be 'por', but I have read 'para' in some texts I've come across.

Mi novio ha ido a Francia por un mes.
Mi novio ha ido a Francia para un mes.

Mi novio irá a Francia por un mes.
Mi novio irá a Francia para un mes.

Yo estudié por seis horas.
Yo estudié para seis horas.

Yo voy a estudiar por seis horas.
Yo voy a estudiar para seis horas.

Elena vino por una quincena.
Elena vino para una quincena.

Elena vendrá por una quincena.
Elena viendrá para una quincena.

Many thanks in advance.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

To me, "para" sounds incorrect. I cannot know if this is could be used anywhere else though.

"Para", for me, needs that you state a purpose:

-Mi novio fue a Francia para quedarse un mes.
-Mi novio irá a Francia para estar allá un mes.
-Yo estudié para prepararme seis horas antes.
-Yo voy a estudiar para aprovechar estas seis horas.
-Elena vino para pasar una quincena con nosotros.
-Elena vendrá para trabajar una quincena en la empresa.

[fglorca]

Thanks so much!

[fglorca]

Just looking back on what you said there, AngelicaDeAlquezar...

I have heard Spaniards using para with a time expression:
Mi novio ha ido a Francia para un mes.
Maybe the verb 'pasar' is implied but not stated?

Which is why maybe it wouldn't work below:
Yo voy a estudiar para seis horas. (Again, I'm not sure if this correct, but I don't think it is).

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Since I'm really not familiar with the use of "para" in this context, I hope our forum members from Spain will chime in.


I found some examples on Google (not many) where people say "estar para un año" or "estar para dos semanas" and even "estudiar para una hora". I can't tell whether they are foreign learners or if they're native speakers.
So, supposing these are all Spanish native speakers, I guess your examples are alright when used with people who speak like this. In many other environments, you might even get corrected. :thinking: