The challenge for the English speaker learning to use these prepositions
correctly is that although they might appear to resemble one another, in
the sense that both translate English ‘for’, they are in fact rarely inter-
changeable without changing the meaning of the Spanish. Although the
complete range of subtle differences only becomes clear after studying
examples of their use, it is possible to establish at the outset one or two
fundamental distinctions.
In general terms porlooks back towards the source of things whilst para
refers to the destination of things. Porstates where things come from and
parawhere they are going:
El documento fue preparado por el consejo para el rey.
The document was prepared by the council (its origin) for the king
(its destination).
There are parallels when each of these prepositions is used to designate
time and place. Paraonce again refers to aim or destination:
Debemos terminarlo para mañana.
We must finish it by (or for) tomorrow.
Mañana salgo para Sevilla.
Tomorrow I leave for Seville.
In contrast pordesignates time ‘during which’ or place ‘through which’
something occurs:
Vamos a París por un mes.
We are going to Paris for a month.
Va a Sevilla (pasando) por Madrid.
He is going to Seville via Madrid.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to establish clearly contrasting uses for
most of the contexts in which porand paraare used.
avery
(avery)
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