Spanish

Para and Por

There are two prepositions that must be explained together because they are most commonly

confused by English speakers. The prepositions para and por both have a number of English

translations, but the word that you would use in English does not determine which of the two

prepositions to use in Spanish. You must consider what relationship is being expressed, and use

the appropriate preposition.

The reasons for using para can easily be remembered with the acronym PRODDS.

Purpose

Para is used to express the purpose of doing something. It is sometimes translated “in order to”

in front of an infinitive to indicate purpose.

Coma las legumbres para la buena salud.

Eat vegetables for good health

Trabajamos para ganar dinero.

We work in order to earn money.

Recipient

The intended recipient of an object (to where or whom something is going) is indicated with the

preposition para.

Yo cociné la comida para mi abuela.

I cooked the meal for my grandmother.

Opinion

Para is also to indicate a personal opinion or as far as “one” is concerned.

Para mí los derechos humanos son importantes.

In my opinion, human rights are important.

Destination

Para is used to indicate the destination or direction of something in a real, physical sense or in a

figurative, metaphorical sense.

Las toallas son para el baño.

The towels are for the bathroom.

Deadline

Para is used to indicate a deadline or due date.

El proyecto es para el veinte de mayo.

The project is due the 20th of May.

Standard

A standard is what is considered “normal.” To express that something strays from the norm or is

contrary to the established or understood standard, the preposition para is used.

Su hijo sabe mucho para su edad.

His son knows a lot for his age.

The reasons for using por can easily be remembered with the acronym MEDMEMTS.

Motivation

Motivation is the equivalent of the English expression due to or as a result of. Motivation is the

cause/reason behind something rather than the goal in front of it.

Tengo muchas botellas de champú por el viaje de negocios.

I have many bottles of shampoo due to the business trip.

Emotions

Por is used to express emotion for someone or something.

Tengo respeto por el jefe.

I have respect for the boss.

Duration

Por is used to express the duration of time or the length of time that something lasts/lasted.

Vivimos en Puerto Rico por dos años.

We lived in Puerto Rico for two years.

Means

When you want to indicate the means or manner in which something is done - a means of

communication or transportation - por is used. Here is an expression with por indicating this:

Voy a enviar la información por email.

I am going to send the information via email.

Exchange

When one thing is exchanged for another, por is used to express “for,” as in when money is

exchanged for something.

Talia pagó veinte dólares por los zapatos.

Talia paid twenty dollars for the shoes.

Movement

You should use por anytime the idea expresses “through,” “by,” or “along.” Por indicates

movement/motion within an area.

Caminamos por la orilla del río.

We walked along the bank of the river.

Thanks

When you thanking someone for something, por is used.

Gracias por tu ayuda.

Thanks for your help.

Substitution

The preposition por is used to indicate substitution – translated “in place of” or “instead of.”

Juan murió por Miguel.

John died for Michael.

Idiomatic expressions

There are certain words that use the preposition por or para to create an idiomatic expression.

Para Idioms:

Para con – toward

Para eso – for that matter

Para ser – in spite of being

Para siempre – forever

Para que – in order/so that

Por Idioms:

Por ejemplo – for example

Por eso – therefore

Por fin – finally

Por medio de – by means of

Por lo menos – at least

Por primera vez – for the first time

Por supuesto – of course

Other Simple Prepositions

A (at – time, position)

(in – manner, place)

(to – motion toward a place)

(by/on – means of)

(personal “a” – no English equivalent) The personal “a” is used as “a” or “al” before a noun

and after a verb, if the direct object of the verb is a person or is personified.

E.g. No veo a la niña.

Con (with)

Contra (against)

De (from – origin, composition)

(of – contents, ownership/possession)

(in – specific time of day)

(than – when making a comparison)

Desde (since)

Durante (during)

En (in – location, duration, date)

(at – where someone undertakes some activity)

(on – position)

(by – manner/transport)

Hacia (toward)

Hasta (until)

Sin (without)

Sobre (on, about)

Tras (behind, after)

Compound Prepositions

Cerca de (near to)

Debajo de (under)

Delante de (in front of)

Detrás de (behind)

Enfrente de (opposite)

A la derecha de (to the right of)

A la izquierda de (to the left of)

A lo largo de (along)

Alrededor de (around)

Antes de (before)

Después de (after)

Contractions of Prepositions

There are two contractions that must be observed in Spanish. These contractions only occur

when the prepositions are followed by the definite article “el”.

• a + el = al

• de + el = del

Prepositional Pronouns

These are pronouns that are used immediately after a preposition. They function as the object of

the preposition, replacing the noun that names a person or thing.

Prepositional pronouns are identical to subject pronouns with the exceptions of mí and ti.

mí – me

ti – you (informal sing.)

él – him

ella – her

usted – you (formal sing.)

nosotros – us

ellos/ellas – them

ustedes – you (formal & informal plu.)

Exceptions

• Certain pronouns that follow the preposition “con” take on a special form.

With me - conmigo

With you - contigo

With him/with her/with them - consigo

• The following prepositions will not be used with the prepositional pronouns mí and ti but

rather yo and tú:

entre – between

excepto/menos/salvo – except

incluso – even/including

según – according to

E.g. Menos yo – except me

Prepositions and Verbs

Whenever a verb is used after a preposition, the infinitive form (which translates to the English

present participle form) is used.

• Al salir – upon leaving

• Antes de comer –

• Una clase de escribir –

• Después de trabajar –

• Sin estudiar –

There are verbs with prepositions in Spanish that have no English translation or that have a

different meaning in English:

• Asistir a – to attend

• Cuidar a – to take care of (someone)

• Jugar a – to play (sport/game)

• Llegar a – to arrive in

• Sonar a – to sound like

• Casarse con – to marry

• Contar con – to rely on

• Preocuparse con – to worry about

• Soñar con – to dream about/of

• Acabar de – to have just

• Alegrarse de – to be happy about

• Dejar de – to stop

• Hablar de – to talk about

• Llenar de – to fill with

• Tratar de – to try to

• Consistir en – to consist of

• Entrar en – to enter

• Pensar en – to think about

There are verbs that have no Spanish preposition but have one in English:

• Apagar – to turn off

• Agradecer – to be grateful for

• Bajar – to go down

• Buscar – to look/search for

• Caerse – to fall down

• Decidir – to decide to

• Escuchar – to listen to

• Esperar – to hope/wait for

• Mirar – to look at

• Pagar – to pay for

• Pedir – to ask for

• Poder – to be able to

• Quitar – to take off

• Sacar – to take out

• Soler – to be accustomed to

Subir- to go up