Por and para (AQA GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Por and para
Understanding when to use por and para is one of the trickiest aspects of Spanish grammar, but with practice, you'll master these essential prepositions. Both can mean "for" in English, but they have very different uses in Spanish.
Using por
The preposition por expresses various relationships and is used in several specific contexts. Think of por as relating to reasons, causes, and general time periods.
Exchange
When you're talking about trading one thing for another or paying for something, use por.
Example: Exchange
Pagué cien euros por el vuelo. (I paid €100 for the flight.)
Cause or reason
Use por to explain why something happened - the cause behind an action.
Example: Cause or reason
El avión salió tarde por la lluvia. (The plane left late because of the rain.)
Action on behalf of someone
When someone does something for another person's benefit, por shows this relationship.
Example: Action on behalf of someone
Lo hizo por mí. (She did it for me.)
Rates and measurements
Express rates, speeds, or measurements using por.
Example: Rates and measurements
Gano seis euros por hora. (I earn €6 per hour.)
Means of communication
When describing how you communicate or travel, por indicates the method.
Example: Means of communication
Me llamó por teléfono. (He called me on the phone.)
Unspecified periods of time
For vague or indefinite time periods, use por.
Example: Unspecified time periods
Me quedaré en Buenos Aires por poco tiempo. (I will stay in Buenos Aires for a short time.)
Using para
The preposition para focuses on destinations, purposes, and future deadlines. Think of para as pointing towards a goal or target.
Purpose
When explaining the reason or intention behind an action, para shows the purpose. It can often be translated as "in order to".
Example: Purpose
- Llevamos una botella de agua fría para el viaje. (We're taking a bottle of cold water for the journey.)
- Voy a utilizar mi tarjeta de crédito para pagar el hotel. (I'm going to use my credit card to pay for the hotel.)
Destination
Use para when talking about where someone or something is going - both places and people.
Example: Destination
- Ha salido para Madrid. (He has left for Madrid.)
- Voy a comprar unos regalos para mi familia. (I'm going to buy some presents for my family.)
Specific time periods or deadlines in the future
When you have a specific deadline or future time in mind, use para.
Example: Specific time periods
Quisiera una habitación para quince días. (I would like a room for a fortnight.)
Set phrases with por
Some common expressions always use por and should be memorised as fixed phrases:
These expressions with por don't follow the general rules - they must be learned as set phrases.
| Spanish phrase | English meaning |
|---|---|
| por favour | please |
| por primera vez | for the first time |
| por aquí | over here, around here |
| por todas partes | everywhere |
| por la mañana | in the morning |
| por ciento | per cent |
Key vocabulary
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el vuelo | the flight |
| el avión | the plane |
| la lluvia | the rain |
| la hora | the hour |
| el teléfono | the phone |
| el tiempo | the time |
| la botella | the bottle |
| el agua | the water |
| el viaje | the journey |
| la tarjeta de crédito | the credit card |
| el hotel | the hotel |
| la habitación | the room |
| los regalos | the presents |
| la familia | the family |
Example sentences
Here are some practical examples showing por and para in context:
Using por:
- Me llamó por teléfono. (He called me on the phone.)
- Gano seis euros por hora. (I earn six euros per hour.)
Using para:
- Este regalo es para mi profesor. (This present is for my teacher.)
- Voy a llamarle por teléfono. (I'm going to call him on the phone.)
Grammar tips
Key Memory Strategies:
Remember that por often relates to the reason behind something, while para points towards a goal or destination.
Many students find it helpful to think:
- por = "because of" or "through"
- para = "in order to" or "towards"
Visual Learning Tip:
Try visualising por and para uses in different colours when studying - this can help you remember which one to use in different contexts.
Translation practice
Test your understanding with these translation exercises:
Translate from Spanish to English:
- Voy a ir a la ciudad para hacer compras.
- El tren para Madrid sale a las seis.
Translate from English to Spanish:
- I'm going to do it for you.
- My sister earns twenty euros per hour.
Answers:
Spanish to English:
- I'm going to go to the city to do shopping.
- The train to Madrid leaves at six o'clock.
English to Spanish:
- Voy a hacerlo por ti.
- Mi hermana gana veinte euros por hora.
Key Points to Remember:
- Por is used for reasons, causes, exchanges, rates, means of communication, and vague time periods
- Para is used for purposes, destinations, and specific future deadlines
- Learn the set phrases with por by heart - they don't follow the general rules
- When in doubt, ask yourself: "Am I explaining why something happened (por) or what the goal is (para)?"
- Practice with real examples - the more you use them in context, the more natural they'll become