When is para used

Pick an app like Anki or Flashcards Deluxe. Make sure that it uses a spaced repetition system to help you learn more quickly. Next, gather as many sentences as you can find that use either por or para. Put the English sentence on one side of each card, and the Spanish translation on the other. When studying, translate each sentence into Spanish, out loud.

What are the actual rules for using each word? They should make the rules more clear once I do explain them. Take a look at the following Spanish para sentences and their English translations. The word para seems to convey the same idea in each sentence, even though the context is different.

The meaning that para conveys is that of a final goal, destination or purpose. This is one of the most common uses of para , and you can clearly see how it conveys a sense of purpose. Look at the first one. What was the purpose of the eggs? To be my breakfast. Is there a single endpoint, or an objective, in the sentence?

Well, there are actually several, and some of them are a bit more subtle than the para pattern. Note: Some of my example sentences use por to describe a length of time. This use of por is more common in Latin America than in Spain. Quick quiz. Some very common examples are shown in the table below. Learn Spanish. Sign in. Main Uses. Review of Main Uses. Quick Tips. More Practice with Por and Para. Set Expressions. More on Uses and Set Expressions.

Extra Practice on Uses. Comprehensive Review. Por Por is used to talk about movement, modes and means of travel and communication, exchanges, duration, and motivation, among other things.

Travel and Communication Por can be used to talk about the way you travel or communicate. Te doy sesenta pesos por la mochila. Because of her love for children, she wants to be a pediatrician. Trabajo por ti, porque te quiero cuidar. No, Bruno. Estos chocolates no son para los perros. Tengo que terminar esto para las ocho. Corro para mantenerme en forma. Looking for common expressions with por and para? Check out some of them: Por : for, to, because of, by, on, in, through, instead of, during, per Para : for, in order to, according to, by, on Ok, now you probably feel even more desperate than before.

Trabaja para ganar dinero. He works in order to earn money. Let me exemplify with the three sentences above: Why do you speak Spanish? To talk to people from Argentina. Why do we need to talk? To discuss some important things. Why does he work? To earn money. It can also be used to refer to the recipient of something: Salgo para Chile esta noche. I leave for Chile tonight. Voy para Europa. Este cuadro es para un museo en Madrid.

This painting is for a museum in Madrid. Este pastel es para mi madre. This cake is for my mother. The appointment is on Thursday. It will be done by tomorrow. For me, Spanish is more romantic than Italian. Los estudiantes son el futuro para la profesora. The students are the future according to the teacher.