1. POR vs
PARA
Descubre 2, Lección 2

2. Por vs. Para
Por and Para have the same meaning in English most of the time. (for)
Por and Para can change meanings depending on usage.
Por and Para are not interchangeable– they have their own set of rules.

3. Choosing POR or PARA can change meaning!
A. Luciano canta para Plácido.
B. Luciano canta por Plácido.
Both translate as “Luciano sings for Plácido.”
In sentence A. Plácido is listening to Luciano sing.
In sentence B. Luciano is singing in place of Plácido.

4. PARA
Destination
Meaning for or to To express final destination; toward, in the direction of I travel to Spain this year in a plane. Yo viajo para España este año en el avión. I walk to school every morning. Yo camino para la escuela cada mañana.

5. PARA
Deadlines
Meaning by or for Expresses a specific time limit or deadline in the future. I need the paper by Monday. (Yo) necesito el papel para lunes.

6. Purpose or goal + (infinitive verb)
PARA
Purpose or goal + (infinitive verb)
Meaning in order to I am studying in order to learn more. (Yo) estoy estudiando para aprender más. They work in order to pay the bills. Ellos trabajan para pagar las cuentas.

7. PARA
Purpose + (noun)
Meaning for or used for To express the purpose of an object It´s a tire for the car. Es una llanta para el carro. The printer is used for printing. Se usa la impresora para imprimir.

8. PARA
Recipient
Meaning for To say who or what is the recipient of something We bought the gift for you. (Nosotros) compramos el regalo para ti. The ring is for her. El anillo es para ella.

9. PARA Comparison or Opinion
Meaning for To compare with others or to express opinion For a fat dog, he runs very fast. Para un perro gordo, él corre muy rápido. For me, this lesson isn’t difficult. Para mí, esta lección no es difícil.

10. PARA
Employment
Meaning for To tell for whom or where a person works. I worked for my dad last summer. Yo trabajé para mi papá el verano pasado. She works for Sears. Ella trabaja para Sears.

11. PARA Review Destination Deadlines Purpose or goal + (infinitive verb)
Purpose + (noun)
Recipient
Comparison or opinion
Employment

12. POR
Motion
Meaning “through” “along” “beside” “by” To express movement through or by a place, not a final destination. (Yo) caminé por el parque ayer. I walked through the park yesterday. Ellos corrieron por la playa. They ran along the beach.

13. POR
Duration
Meaning “for” “during” “in” To express amount of time an action or event lasts for Estuve en la Patagonia por un mes. I was in Patagonia for a month. Estudié el español por dos horas. I studied Spanish for two hours.

14. POR
Reason
Meaning because of or on account of or on behalf of To give the reason or motive for an action. El partido teminó por la llovía. The game ended because of rain. Lo hizo por su familia. She did it on behalf of her family.

15. POR
Object of a search
Meaning for or in search of To say who or what is looked for Vengo por ti a las ocho. I’m coming for you at eight. Manuel fue por su cámara digital. Manuel went in search of his digital camera.

16. Means by which something is done
POR
Means by which something is done
Meaning “by” “on” “via” “by way of” Yo viajé por tren a México. I traveled by train to Mexico. Ella va a mandar el regalo por correo. She is going to send the gift by mail.

17. POR
Exchange
Meaning “for” “in place of” “instead of”. To espress a substitution of things or people. She is going to work for me because I am sick. Ella va a trabajar por mí porque estoy enfermo. Pagué veinte pesos por la pizza. I paid twenty pesos for the pizza.

18. POR
Unit of measure
Meaning “per” “by” José manejaba a 120 kilómetros por hora. José was driving 120 kilometers per hour.

19. POR Specific Expressions
Por favor-Please Por fin-Finally/at last Por supuesto-Of course Por fin - finally Por eso – that´s why Por aquí – around here Por ejemplo – for example

20. POR Review Motion Duration Reason Object of a search
Means by which something is done
Exchange
Unit of measure