The prepositions "por" and "para" look quite difficult the first time we study them. We discover that they have different equivalents in English.
Before starting to see which these differences are, let´s have a look at some sentences:
This book is for you. Este libro es para tí.
To go to the hospital, you need to take the bus. Para ir al hospital, necesitas coger el autobús.
Will you come home for my birthday? ¿Vendrás a casa por mi cumpleaños?
I like walking in the street. Me gusta pasear por la calle.
In the evening I always visit my mother. Por la tarde visito siempre a mi madre
Let´s try now to understand the difference between "por" and "para"
Lo he hecho para ella. I have done-made it for her (to give it to her, for example a painting, clean the dishes...)
Lo hago todo por ella. I do anything for her (for example, work hard, earn money, etc. In a word, for her welfare, happiness, etc.)
Me voy para la montaña (I am going to the mountain, same as me voy a la montaña)
Me voy por la montaña (I am going through the mountain) Walking through the mountain.
Vamos para el pueblo (we are going to the village) Same as "vamos al pueblo". Same meaning.
Vamos por el pueblo (we are walking through the village, among its streets, people. etc)
Para demostrar que es cierto..... (to show or proove that it is true.....)
Por demostrar que es cierto, te regalo un reloj (Because you prooved it to be true, I am giving you a watch)
Le llamaron para hablar del tema. (They called him to speak about the issue)
Le llamaron por hablar del tema . (They called him for having spoken about the issue)
Try to guess the correct preposion. ¿Por or Para?
But first.... a little hint: "Para" has a sense of movement towards the outside. Salgo para comer un poco.
While "por" has many times a sense of contrary movemet, it goes to a cause, to the inside. Por haber sido bueno, te regalo un caramelo (Because you were good, something happened before and therefore there is an action. Of course, it can also be the equivalent for "through" and some other preposition. As for "para" there is always a sense of doing something without a cause, this is for you, para tí, and not because you did something before that makes want to give you something. It´s because I want to, because I feel like doing it, from feelings, etc.)
The best example could be: Esto es para tí por haber sido bueno (this is for you for having been so good)
Now try to find the correct preposition. Answers will be published next week. And we will continue practising "por" and "para". Good luck!
Antonio camina ..... la playa
Estoy vestida ...... ir a la fiesta
He comprado libros ....... los estudiantes.
Jaime está estudiando ------ ser doctor
Me alegro ...... tí
Tengo que estudiar mucho ...... sacar buenas notas
Llamaré por teléfono a Juan ...... pedirle que venga a la fiesta
Al colegio se va ..... este camino
En Navidad habrán muchos regalos ........ nosotros.
Tengo que ir ........ la clase de Matemáticas.
Debes entrar ..... esta puerta
Es un placer ...... mí poder ser tu amigo.
Este horno sirve ...... hacer pizza
Perdóname ....... ser tan tonto.
...... la tarde siempre tomo chocolate
Quiero comprarme un sombrero ...... la fiesta de Halloween
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