"Por" y "Para"

[Elizabeth]

Como usted sabe cuando usar "por" o "para"? Si hay una pregunta similar, ¡siento! :)

(feel free to correct any mistakes)

[Rusty]

This question comes up a lot.
Ya se ha hecho esta pregunta.

The answer can be found in a number of places, so rather than retype it all, I'll try to find them.

By the way, there's an 'Accents' drop-down menu that gives you access to all the special characters you'll need for typing in Spanish, like the opening interrogation mark (¿). Although it's not incorrect, you're question would flow better if you just asked, "Cuándo se usa por o para?" You may not be familiar with the impersonal 'se' construction, but it's used when we're addressing no one in particular. Think of it as the equivalent of 'one uses / does one use'.
Por ejemplo:
¿Cómo se sabe cuando usar por o para?

[María José]

This year I taught Spanish to foreigners for the first time and I noticed this was one of my students' biggest problems. So at least you know you are not alone...

[Rusty]

Here's a good thread about the topic (http://forums.tomisimo.org/showthread.php?t=4438&highlight=para+order).
It has some good links in it to other websites and the instruction irmamar offers is great, too!

@David: Maybe that thread would be a good sticky-thread candidate (or you could create your own spinoff using some of the material).

[Tomisimo]

@Rusty - That thread is now sticky.

[EmpanadaRica]

Ok :)

Not sure whether to continue here or in the sticky-toffee-topic.. :D

But I just wanted to say: I have problems with this one myself as well. Apart from the bigger distinctions that are quite clear I find myself hestitating a lot... and then chosing the wrong one frequently. :(

I'm now inclined to pick the other one than my 'gutfeeling' is telling me to... :D :rolleyes:

[CrOtALiTo]

My partners beat me before.

But the different between the word Por and Para is that the first one is used as complement of an sentence.

And the second one is used likely when you need to do some kind to question or affirmation.


Sincerely yours.

[EmpanadaRica]

My partners beat me before.

I think you probably mean ' My partners (friends?) beat me to it?
That means they've already explained things or said what you wanted to say, in this case. :) (If you say 'my partners beat me before', it means your partners hit you earlier).


But the difference between the word Por and Para is that the first one is used as a complement of a sentence.

And the second one is used likely ( usually/generally/more often?) when you need to do ask some kind of question or are asking for/are looking for/want an affirmation.



Gracias ;)

[CrOtALiTo]

I think you probably mean ' My partners (friends?) beat me to it?
That means they've already explained things or said what you wanted to say, in this case. :) (If you say 'my partners beat me before', it means your partners hit you earlier).



Gracias ;)

Thank you for your suggestions.

But I meant partners.

Compañeros.

I could to say friends too. But I didn't believe needed the word friend in this context.

I know the difference between them.

[EmpanadaRica]

Thank you for your suggestions.

But I meant partners.

Compañeros.

I could to say friends too. But I didn't believe (/think) I needed to use (/should use) the word friend in this context.

I know the difference between them.

Ok :) Me caillo la boca entonces :D

[Tomisimo]

Partners no significa compañeros (aunque podrían ser similares).

[irmamar]

What does sticky mean here? :thinking: "Sticky" means engomado, pegajoso... I don't understand it. :confused:

[poli]

What does sticky mean here? :thinking: "Sticky" means engomado, pegajoso... I don't understand it. :confused:
Sí, entiendes el significado. Sticky significa pegajoso.:)

[irmamar]

Sí, entiendes el significado. Sticky significa pegajoso.:)

Gracias :). Pero entonces no entiendo qué significa un tema pegajoso :confused:

[María José]

You should say: Me callo

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@Irma: Es como poner una nota de papel, de ésas que tienen pegamento atrás para ponerlas en cualquier lado. En lenguaje de foros, un tema "sticky" es una nota que tienes siempre a la vista. :)

[irmamar]

@Irma: Es como poner una nota de papel, de ésas que tienen pegamento atrás para ponerlas en cualquier lado. En lenguaje de foros, un tema "sticky" es una nota que tienes siempre a la vista. :)

¡Ah! Nosotros decimos "post-it", por la marca, supongo.

[Elizabeth]

¡Gracias! Estas paginas web me ayudan mucho.

[EmpanadaRica]

You should say: Me callo

¡Gracias! :thumbsup: Conoci sólo la expressión ' Cállate la boca' ;)

What does sticky mean here? :thinking: "Sticky" means engomado, pegajoso... I don't understand it. :confused:

Sorry irma. :)

It was a little wordplay, because Tomisimo mentioned he was going to make 'por-para' (the other topic about it) sticky, i.e. 'pin' it at the top of the forumpage so it would always be in clear view to everyone coming to the forum. Because this is a very popular question and a difficult issue for people learning Spanish.

Sticky can mean pegajoso yes (it's the primary meaning) but it can sometimes also mean something 'unpleasant' :

–adjective 1.having the property of adhering, as glue; adhesive.2.covered with adhesive or viscid matter: sticky hands. 3.(of the weather or climate) hot and humid: It was an unbearably sticky day. 4.requiring careful treatment; awkwardly difficult: a rather sticky diplomatic problem; Breaking the news is going to be sticky. 5.Informal. unpleasant; unfortunate; nasty: The villain of the story meets a sticky end.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sticky


That's the reason for/ idea behind the wordplay. :) Hope it' s clearer now. :D

[CrOtALiTo]

Ok :) Me caillo la boca entonces :D

Don't worry:)