esp3

Just as SER and ESTAR both mean ‘to be’ and CONOCER and SABER both mean ‘to know’, there are TWO ways of saying “FOR” AND, as with SER or ESTAR and CONOCER or SABER, it is the MESSAGE you are communicating that determines which word is required

both PARA and POR mean “FOR” in Spanish, it depends what meaning ‘behind’ “FOR” you are trying to communicate

 Deadline (‘by’ a time)  In order to (so that)  In the employ of (to work for)  Used for (intended use)  Destination (for whom intended)  In spite of being  Let’s look at each use individually...

 El ensayo es para jueves (The essay is for Thursday) –  The essay is DUE on Thursday, Thursday is the DEADLINE to hand in the essay  La fiesta está para el sábado (The party is Saturday) –  The time/date of the party (deadline) is Saturday

 Estudia para ser abogada. (She studies in order to be (so that she can be) a lawyer)  PARA demonstrates the PURPOSE

 Él trabaja para Xerox (He works for [in the employ] of Xerox)

 Es una taza para té (it’s a cup for tea [it’s intended use is for tea])  Es una máquina para clasificar cartas (it’s a machine for sorting letters [it was created with the intent of sorting letters])

 Vamos para la playa (we’re headed for the beach [our destination is the beach])  Este regalo es para Roberto (this gift is for Roberto {the gift is intended for Roberto})

 Habla bien para tener 2 años. (she speaks well in spite of being 2 years old)  This use of PARA is a result of being SURPRISED – that you wouldn’t expect the situation to be what it is

 Para sí = for oneself  Para siempre = for always/forever  Para + infinitivo = ‘Just about to’

 For the sake of (motive)  In exchange for ($)  Because (reason; due to)  To take for/mistake for  In place of/ instead of  Along, through, by (motion)  Per (rate [$], [#])  Extent of time/duration of time  By (author/creator)  By (transportation)

 He venido por el dinero (I’ve come for the money)  Va al trabajo andando por el ejercicio (She walks to work for the exercise)

 Pagué $15 por el libro (I paid $15 for the book)  Mi hijo me da una sonrisa por un beso (my son gives me a smile for a kiss)

 Lo echaron por llegar tarde (they fired him for [due to] arriving late)  Por ser tan amable, te invito a tomar algo (because you’re so nice [due to being so nice], I invite you for a drink)

 Me tomaron por española cuando viví en Valladolid (they mistook me for [thought I was] a Spaniard when I lived in Valladolid)  **TOMAR = to take

 Susana trabaja por Luisa hoy (Susana is working instead of Luisa today)  Estoy enferma, ¿puedes venir a la reunión por mí? (I’m sick, can you go to the meeting for me?)

 Andamos por la playa (we walk along the beach)  Viajamos por Filadelfía (we travel through Philadelphia)

 Ayer, pagué $3.69 por galón de gasolina (yesterday, I paid $3.69 per gallon of gas)  Te pagan $7.25 por hora (they pay you $7.25 per hour)

 Rebekah estará en Orizaba, México por 10 semanas (Rebekah will be in Orizaba, México for 10 weeks)

 El Quijote fue escrito por Cervantes (Quijote was written by Cervantes)  Guernica fue pintado por Picasso (Guernica was painted by Picasso)

 No me gusta viajar por barco (I don’t like to travel by boat)  Van a Nueva York por autobús (they travel to New York by bus)

 Por fin = finally  Por lo menos = at least  Por ejemplo = for example  Por toda (mi/tu/etc) vida = for all (my/your) life  Por Dios = my God!  Por casualidad – by chance  Por lo tanto = therefore

 Por supuesto – of course, naturally  Por eso = therefore, for that reason  Por ningún lado = no where  Por lo general = generally