Clase 009 Por and Para

INSTRUCTOR: We are now going to cover the uses of the prepositions por and

para. This is an area of Spanish grammar that even confuses many advanced students.

Even though in many cases both por and para can mean for in English. Depending on

your selection of por and para you can completely change the meaning of a phrase.

And if you make a mistake and use por when you should be using para or vice versa,

you may be misunderstood by a Spanish speaker. Let me give you an example of this. If I

say Yo cocino para mi hijo. That suggests that I am cooking in order for my son to

receive the food that I am cooking. My son is the recipient of what I am cooking. But if I

say Yo cocino por mi hijo. That means I am cooking in his place or instead of him.

Maybe my son is a chef. And he is sick so I am going to cook in his place or instead of him.

Natalia: S Patrick, tienes toda la razn. Cambia totalmente el sentido y es un error que

cometen casi todos. Por ejemplo la frase El libro fue escrito por Juan significa que Juan

es el autor del libro. Pero la frase El libro fue escrito para Juan significa que otra persona,

diferente de Juan, escribi el libro porque Juan se lo pidi o porque le quiere dar un regalo

a Juan.

INSTRUCTOR: In a future podcast, we will do an interactive exercise on the uses of

por and para. But today we are only to discuss the uses of para Para is often used

when we want to talk about destination. We use para when we want to talk about where

someone or something is going. And that destination can be real or figurative. In this case

para means for in English. Here are some examples of English phrases that would

require para if we translate them into Spanish:

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This rag is for the kitchen.

John is perfect for this job.

Natalia: Primero estudiemos las frases anteriores en espaol:

Este trapo es para la cocina.

Juan es perfecto para este trabajo.

Noten que en cada frase hablamos de dos sustantivos, uno de ellos abarca al otro, le da un

destino. El destino del trapo es la cocina, y el destino de Juan es el trabajo.

INSTRUCTOR: When we want to talk about destination, para is also used when we

want to describe who the recipient of an action is. Here are a couple of English phrases that

talk about the recipient of an action and when translated into Spanish, they would require

para.

The cook has the food for Michael.

These chocolates are for my wife.

Natalia: Tal como acaba de decir Patrick, el destino puede referirse a una persona, por

ejemplo:

El cocinero tiene la comida para Miguel.

Estos chocolates son para mi esposa.

INSTRUCTOR: When we want to talk about final destination, we also use para. In

this case para means to or for. But if we are talking about a temporary stop on the

way to our final destination then we must use por. For example, if I want to translate that

we are going to Colombia then I have to use para. Vamos para Colombia. But if we

are flying to Ecuador and we have a temporary stop or layover in Colombia then I would

say pasamos por Colombia.

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Natalia: Se usa POR cuando hablamos de un paso obligado para llegar al destino final. Por

ejemplo, Pasaremos por Ecuador para llegar a Per.

INSTRUCTOR: When we want to talk about the objective of ones studies, we use also

para. So if you are talking about what someone wants to be or their objective such as

their profession, then we must use para. For example, she is studying to be a doctor. He is

studying to be a lawyer. And in this case para means to be.

Natalia: Para se usa cuando se habla de un propsito, como el fin de los estudios. Por

ejemplo: Ella estudia para ser mdica. El estudia para ser abogado. Sin embargo, es ms

comn decir el nombre del programa de estudios, por ejemplo ella estudia medicina, l

estudia derecho.

INSTRUCTOR: When we want to talk about a deadline, or a time limit in the future or

if you want to indicate when you need a certain action completed, then you use para

followed by an infinitive. In this case, you can define para as by, on for or before

in English. Here are a couple of English phrases that would use para if you translate

them into Spanish:

I need this homework assignment by Monday.

I need this tuxedo by the weekend.

Natalia: Cuando queremos hablar de una "fecha lmite", o un lmite de tiempo en el

futuro, utilizamos "para" seguido de un verbo en infinitivo.Aqu hay un par de frases en

ingls que utilizan "para" si se traducen al espaol:

Necesito esta tarea para el lunes.

Necesito este esmoquin para el fin de semana.

INSTRUCTOR: We also use para to express purpose. And the formula is to use

PARA and an INFINITIVE VERB. And in this case para means for in English. And
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here are a couple of English phrases that would use para in this case. Food is for eating.

These sneakers are for running.

Natalia: La preposicin para tambin se usa para expresar propsitos. Por ejemplo:

La comida es para comer.

Estos tenis son para correr.

INSTRUCTOR: We also use para to express the purpose for doing something. Again,

the formula is to use PARA and an INFINITIVE VERB. And in this case para means to

or in order to in English. And here are a couple of English phrases that would use para

in this case. I sleep in order to rest. She studies Spanish in order to learn.

Natalia: Tambin usamos PARA para expresar el propsito de hacer algo. Por ejemplo:

Yo duermo para descansar.

Ella estudia espaol para aprender.

INSTRUCTOR: We also use para when we want to compare something or someone to

a standard. For example, the boy is smart of his age. It is cold for June.

Natalia: Cuando queremos comparar algo o alguien contra un estndar, usamos PARA.

El nio es inteligente para su edad.

Hace frio para SER junio.

Est muy oscuro para ser las 6 de la tarde

INSTRUCTOR: We also use para when we want to express an opinion. For example,

for me, Colombia is a beautiful country. For John, lasagna is a delicious dish.

Natalia: Tambin usamos PARA cuando queremos dar opiniones.

Para m, Colombia es un pas hermoso.

Para Juan, la lasaa es un plato delicioso.