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por vs para
B1Por marks cause, exchange, duration and path; para marks goal, purpose, deadline and recipient.
Overview
Por marks cause, exchange, duration and path; para marks goal, purpose, deadline and recipient.
At a glance
- 1.para = purpose / goal
- 2.para = destination, deadline, recipient, opinion
- 3.por = cause and exchange
- 4.por = duration, path, means
- 5.por = agent in passive "by"
Rules
51para = purpose / goal
para expresses intention, purpose or goal, often with an infinitive meaning "in order to".
- Estudio español para viajar por Latinoamérica. — I study Spanish to travel through Latin America.purpose = para
- Esta caja es para los libros. — This box is for the books.
2para = destination, deadline, recipient, opinion
para marks where to, a deadline, the person something is for, or a personal opinion.
- Salimos para Madrid mañana. — We leave for Madrid tomorrow.destination
- El trabajo es para el lunes. — The work is due Monday.deadline
- Para mí, esta es la mejor opción. — For me, this is the best option.opinion
3por = cause and exchange
por marks the cause "because of" and an exchange, price or substitution "in return for".
- Llegamos tarde por el tráfico. — We arrived late because of the traffic.cause
- Compré el coche por diez mil euros. — I bought the car for ten thousand euros.exchange / price
- Gracias por tu ayuda. — Thanks for your help.
4por = duration, path, means
por marks a span of time, movement through a place, and the means used.
- Estudié por dos horas. — I studied for two hours.duration
- Paseamos por el parque. — We walked through the park.movement through
- Te llamo por teléfono. — I'll call you by phone.means
5por = agent in passive "by"
In the passive, the doer of the action takes por, matching English "by".
- La novela fue escrita por una autora joven. — The novel was written by a young author.agent = por
Test
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