1. POR Y PARA

2. In Spanish, the two prepositions por and para are both generally translated as “for.” They are NOT interchangeable.

3. PARA

5. POR

7. Some people prefer rules, but I like pictures and analogies, so here’s how I like to remember the difference between POR & PARA:
If POR and PARA were arrows…

8. PARA WOULD BE… (TOWARDS, DUE DATE, DESTINATION, INTENDED
PURPOSE, GOAL)

9. POR WOULD BE… (BY, THROUGH, AROUND, NEAR, IN EXCHANGE FOR, IN
SEARCH OF)

10. POR WOULD BE… (BY, THROUGH, AROUND, NEAR, IN EXCHANGE FOR, IN
SEARCH OF)

11. POR WOULD BE… (BY, THROUGH, AROUND, NEAR, IN EXCHANGE FOR, TO GO GET)

12. We have to go out through door/gate 12.
We’re going to (towards, heading for) the hotel at 8:30.

13. And this thing, what is it for? (for what purpose)
For (for the sake of) the safety of everyone, I think you should leave your machete, Eric.
And this thing, what is it for? (for what purpose)

14. Por Dios, practiquemos para entender mejor.
(For heaven’s sake, let’s practice in order to understand better.)