#1.Las preposiciones. " por " y " para "

Video: # 1
              POR y PARA

Este video explica la diferencia entre, por y para:

Por y Para

Both por and para can both be translated often as the English preposition "For".
In fact, originally Por and Para came from the same Latin word "pro". Pro later split into por and por a which eventually became por and para respectively.
Por and Para evolved in different directions and each has a wide range of meaning that contrasts with the other.
For example, if you want to order a bottle of wine for your friend at a restaurant, you must be sure to say, Quiero una botella de vino para mi amiga. Why?
Because if you say, Quiero una botella de vino por mi amiga, you have just offered your friend to the waiter in exchange for a bottle of wine! So you can see that it is important to grasp the different uses of Por and Para!
The main difference is that:

Por refers to movement: through time or space

 Para refers to destinations: places, times, people, or goals

Here is a visual chart of the differences. Para marks a destination at the edge of the wheel. Por marks the movement between the point of origin and the Para destination.

Por y Para: A more Detailed look

Here are some guidelines that you can refer to when you aren't sure whether to use Por or Para.

Por (Movimiento)	Para (Destino o Meta)
Reason, Impetu or cause: Lo hizo por bueno He did it for [the common] good. Esto es por ti This is because of/due to you [your fault]. Fui por agua I went for [my motivating factor] water including Instigating person agent or person Lo hizo por ti. He did it because of you/of what you did (you made him do it. Fue construído por Mauricio Izquierdo It was built by Mauricio Izquierdo.	End Goal (Purpose): Estudia para ser médico. He's studying to be (in order to be) a doctor. Voy para aprender más I'm going in order to learn more. Fui para llenar el tanque. I went to (in order to) put gas in the car
to indicate direction or path of movement: Voy por Toledo I going through or in the direction of Toledo Voy por el norte. I'm heading north	Physical Destination [You can often sustitute "hacia" for para]: Voy para Toledo I'm going to Toledo.
to indicate a Duration or Passage of time: Será por agosto. It will be in August, during August María cantó por dos horas María sang for two hours	Time Limit or Destination: Voy para agosto I'm going by August) (deadline) El informe es para las cinco de la tarde. The report is for (due by) 5pm.
substitution/exchange Pago $25.00 por la novela I pay $25.00 for the novel. Doy el libro por el otro I give this book for the other [book]. Trabajo por ella. I'm working for her today (in her place.)	Recipient Este regalo es para ti. This gift is for you. Trabajo para ella. I work for her (she is my employer)

¿Por qué lo hiciste? ¿Para qué lo hiciste?	Why did you do it? [Motive, Cause] What was your intension? [to what end? Purpose, Goal]
Regreso por agosto. Regreso para agosto.	I'll return sometime in/during August. I'll return by August.
Esto es por ti. Esto es para ti.	This is because of you (your fault). This is for you. [Destination, Recipient]
Visito por la Navidad. Visito para la Navidad.	I'll visit during Christmas. I'll visit by Christmas.

Specific examples of Para

Remember that in general, Para is used to when indicating Destinations, whether they are physical, mental, time or emotional goals.

Here are some examples:

1. Physical destination Voy para la puerta. I'm going to the door. Viajo para España. I'm travelling to Spain.

2. Goal, Proposition Voy a La Argentina para estudiar español. I'm going to Argentina to [in order to] study Spanish. Use of things (end use goal) Es para medir drogas. It's for measuring drugs. No sirve para nada. It's not useful for anything.

3. Time Limit or date of an action - deadline (Time Goal) Tiene que salir para el tres de agosto. You must leave by August 3rd. Vamos a terminar la clase para las once. We're going to finish class by 11:00. Necesito el informe para miércoles. I need the report by Wednesday.

4. Indicate an opinion (internal goal) Para mí, El Matrix es una película fabulosa. For me (in my opinion), The Matrix is a great film. Para ella, Leonardo DiCaprio es muy guapo. For her [in her opinion], Leonardo DiCaprio is very handsome. Indicate a comparison (internal goal) Para un jóven, él es buen mecánico. For such a young guy, he's a good mechanic. Para un canadiense, habla bien el español. For a Canadian, he speaks Spanish well.

5. Recipient: El regalo es para ellas. The present is for them. Recipient destination of my hard work: To be employed by Someone Trabajo para UNC-Chapel Hill. I work for UNC-Chapel Hill. Laura trabaja para la policía. Laura works for the police. Mi esposo trabaja para IBM. My husband works for IBM.

Specific examples of Por

Remember that in general, Por is used to when indicating Motion, whether referring to time (duration), direction (including inverse/exchange/substitution), transportation and mode of transport.

 Here are some examples:

1. The idea of through, around or by (direction of motion) Paso por el parque. I go through the park. An indefinite or general direction physically Por el norte, sur, este, oeste. Around/toward/in the direction of the north, south, east, west. or through time Por la mañana, tarde, noche: in (during) the morning, afternoon, evening.

2. Cause or reason prompting a situation (initiating motion) Él lucha por la libertad. He fights for freedom. Mi mamá pasa por nosotros. My mother is picking us up. Vengo por ti. I'm coming for you. Impersonal expressions expressing initiating motion or prompts Por favor, por fin, por eso, por lo general, por lo menos: Please (as a favor), finally (in the end), that's why/so, in general, at least. Responsibility of action (initiating motion) Es escrito por Jorge Luís Borge. It's written by Jorge Luis Borges. Es arrestado por la policía. He is arrested by the police.

3. Direction of motion Exchange José compra una botella de vino por $300. José buys a bottle of wine for $300. Substitution José trabaja por mí. José is working for me (in my place, because I am ill or on vacation) Substitution/Error in identity Tomé a ella por la ratona. I mistook her for the shoplifter.

4. Total time of an action Duration of time/motion Voy a Cuba por 3 años. I'm going to Cuba for 3 years. Frequency (motion of time) Estudiamos español dos días por semana. We study Spanish 2 days a (per) week.

5. Units of measure (mode of motion) por libra, por yarda etc... by the pound, by the yard etc... Relations, proportions, dimensions 3 x 4 = 3 por 4. 100% = 100 por ciento. Measurement (incl. time) still to go to reach a goal Tengo tres páginas por leer. I have three pages to go/ left to read. Estamos por salir. We're about to head out.

6. Mode of transport or communication por avión [by plane], por Fax [by Fax], por teléfono [by phone], por Delta, por Greyhound Bus