Use of "para" with verbs

[JOSE MANUEL]

Originally Posted by SPX

Okay, so I know that:

Necesito comer = I need to eat

Necesito - I need
comer = to eat

Simple.

But I also know that if I want to say, "I am here to learn Spanish" then it's "Estoy aquí para aprender español."

Can someone explain to me this use of "para" and when you do, and do not, put it in front of a verb?

Usually here in Spain, people use "para" as an answer of a question:
¿Para qué estás aquí? Para aprender
¿Para qué usas el coche? Para tardar menos tiempo.

You can also use "por que" to answer, but the it will be longer
¿Por qué estás aquí? Por que quiero aprender
¿Por qué usas el coche? Por que quiero tardar menos tiempo

these sentences means the same.
Be careful writing with the use of "por qué" and "porque", if you make a question are two words with a stress on "qué", but if you answer it's only one word.

[SPX]

Thanks, that's helpful, but how can "para qué" and "por qué" be interchangeable to form the same question when each one is supposed to have very specific, and exclusive, uses that are separate from the other?

[Cuholvke]

¿Para qué hacer eso? >> "(What's the objetive of) doing that?"

¿Por qué hacer eso? >> "(What's the reason of) doing that?"

Both are very similar but not the same.

[SPX]

Ah, okay. Thanks.

[Luna Azul]

Originally Posted by SPX

Okay, thanks. "Correo electrónico" just seems like an awful lot to say if you want to talk about an "e-mail," ha ha.

As for the purity argument, well, I suppose. But e-mail is a relatively modern American invention, so I guess even if we're talking about "correo electrónico" we're just talking about a recently added borrowed word that is simply a Spanish translation of e-mail's proper name in English, "electronic mail," which was itself shortened because it was found to be a bit too cumbersome.

Maybe we should start calling it correo-e. Like it?? lol

Not a bad idea, actually...

[SPX]

Ha ha ha! Actually, if you read the article I posted it says that "correo-e" IS being used by some people. So maybe you're onto something.