THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
Por and Para
Por and Para... What's the difference? How do we know when to use each one? That's exactly what we're going to discuss in today's video... the difference between Por and Para!
Video Lesson
Activate [SUBTITLES] in English
TRANSCRIPTION
Has this ever happened to you before?

Philly: "Caminamos ____ el parque." Do we use "por" or "para"?
Angel: The answer is "para". We walk TO the park.
Demonio: ¡Puh-LEASE! The answer clearly is "por". We walk THROUGH the park.
Angel: My son, the answer is "para". We use "para" when we talk about direction.
Demonio: Look, doofus. The answer is that we use "por" when we're talking about an approximate area.

So what's the right answer? When do we use "por" and when do we use "para"? Well, in this lesson we're going to learn the differences between por and para and when to use each one. Let's go!
Well guys, you should know that there are many uses of por and para and we're not going to learn them all now. This video is only to teach the main differences between the two. In another video we will see more in depth all uses. For now you just have to know the basics.

In general "por" refers to the cause or mode of something. Think of "por" as the way. It is an approximation of a time or space. "Por" is used to refer to the receiver or goal. Think of "para" as the final destination or a more accurate point. Let's see some examples.
(1.) TIME
When we're talking about time, we use "POR" to give an approximate estimation of when something happens.
  • Hace mucho frío por la mañana. (It's really cold in the morning.) (Here we're not talking about a specific moment in the morning. We use "por" to talk about the morning in general.)
  • Vuelvo a casa por la navidad. (I'm going home around Christmas.) (That is, at some point around Christmas time, I'm going home. We don't know exactly when.)

We also use "POR" to talk about frequency.
  • Voy al gimnasio dos veces por semana. (I go to the gym two times per week.) (That is, each week I go to the gym twice.)
  • Bebo ocho vasos de agua por día. (I drink eight glasses of water per day.) 

And we also use "POR" with duration.
  • Hierve los huevos por 10 minutos. (Boil the eggs for ten minutes.)
  • Yo viví en España por dos años. (I lived in Spain for two years.)
We frequently see the word "por" replaced with the word "durante". They are interchangeable in these cases to talk about duration of time.

See how with "por" we're talking about a phase or period of time? But with "PARA" normally we're talking about a specific moment and not a time period. For example, we use "para" to state a deadline. It's used to talk about a particular date, like in the cases of:
  • Esta tarea es para la próxima semana. (This homework is for next week.)
  • Mi jefe quiere este reporte para el lunes. (My boss wants this report by next Monday.)
In these cases, we're talking about a specific moment when something is going to happen.
(2.) SPACE / PLACE
Well guys, we just talked about time. Now we're going to talk about place and physical space. We use "POR" to talk about the path or route that we take, like in the cases of:
  • Vamos por la alameda. (Let's go down the boulevard.) (That is, we're taking the route of the boulevard to get to our destination.)
  • El tren pasa por Los Ángeles. (The train goes through LA.)

Meanwhile we use "PARA" to talk about the final destination.
  • Voy para casa. (I'm going home.) (That is, I'm going in the direction of the house.)
  • Este tren va para San Francisco. (This train goes to San Francisco.) (That is, San Francisco is the final destination.)

We also use "POR" when we talk about an approximate or general space or area. For example:
  • Los perros callejeros andan sueltos por las calles. (Homeless dogs wander loose in the streets.)
  • Este río pasa por toda Europa. (This river runs through all of Europe.)
  • ¿Viste mis llaves por acá? (Did you see my keys around here?)
(3.) CAUSE & GOAL

Difference number 3 between "por" and "para": cause and goal. We use "POR" to say what is the cause or the motivation that originally provoked or triggered an action or event. It tells you what's the reason that something has happened. For example:
  • Yo trabajo por mi familia. (I work for my family.) (In this case I am saying I work because I want to maintain and support my family. I'm earning money on behalf of my family to pay for their things.)
  • Voy a EEUU por mi trabajo. (I'm going to the US for my work.) (Meaning, my company has ordered me to go to the US. My work is the thing that has caused my trip to happen.)

Meanwhile we use "PARA" to say what the goal or objective is that we want to achieve in the future.
  • Voy al supermercado para comprar huevos. (I'm going to the store to buy eggs.) (I don't have them yet. I'm going to the store with the mission of buying them. Buying eggs is the goal I want to achieve at the store.)
  • Voy a EEUU para aprender inglés. (I'm going to the US to learn English.) (That is, learning English is the goal I want to accomplish after getting there.)

Instead of saying "POR", you can think of "por" as an abbreviation for "por causa de". For example:
  • Estoy enojado por como él me trató. (I'm mad because of the way he treated me.)
  • Estamos agradecidos por tus acciones lindas. (We are thankful for your kind actions.)

​We can also think of "POR" as an abbreviation for "en lugar de". (in place of). Let's compare the differences.
  • Juan está enfermo. Yo trabajo por él. (Juan is sick. I'm working for him.) (That is, I'm working in his place. I'm going to replace him and do his work.)

Meanwhile we use "PARA" to state the recipient of an action or gift.
  • Juan está enfermo. Yo preparo sopa para él. (Juan is sick. I'm preparing soup for him.) (Meaning Juan is the recipient of the soup.)
  • Este libro es para principiantes. (This book is for beginners.) (That is, beginners are the intended audience and the ones that are going to use the book. It was written with them in mind.)

Let's review the difference between cause and goal. Choose "por" or "para" in the following two sentences:
  1. El presidente fue elegido ____ su sabiduría. (The President was elected for his wisdom.) (Answer: "por" so wisdom. Here we're talking about the reason he was elected.)
  2. El presidente dio un discurso ____ calmar a la gente. (The President gave a speech to calm the people.) (Answer: "para" calmar a la gente. "Calming the people" is the goal the president wants to achieve with giving his speech.)
(4.) OTHER USES
And a couple final notes: "POR" can also be used with price, rate, exchange, and substitution.
  • Yo compré esta camisa por cinco dólares. (I bought this shirt for five dollars.) (That is, we did an exchange of five dollars for the shirt.)
  • Conducimos a 80 kilómetros por hora en la carretera. (We drive 80 km per hour on the highway.) (Meaning, in one hour we travel 80 km. Or one hour equals 80 km of travel distance.)
 
And we use "POR" to say the mode, tool, or author that is used to complete an objective or action.
  • Llamé a mis papás por teléfono. (I called my parents on the phone.) (The phone is the mode I used to contact my parents.)
  • Esta obra fue pintada por Picasso. (This work was painted by Picasso.)
​Now to finish up the lesson, let's return to our dilemma from the beginning of the video. In the sentence, "Caminamos ____ el parque," should we use "por" or "para"? The good news is that there is no wrong answer. We can use either one, but meaning of the sentence changes.
  • If we say, "Caminamos para el parque," it means we're going in the direction of the park. 
  • If we say, "Caminamos por el parque," it means we're already in the park walking around without specifying our exact location. It means we're walking in the general area. 

Another example with a change of meaning is: 
  • "Yo trabajo por mi papá." (This means that my dad is my motivation or reason for working. I'm working to support him financially.)
  • "Yo trabajo para mi papá." (In this case, my dad is my boss.)
Well guys, if you want more practice with "por" and "para", look at the description below to do more practice exercises. In a later lesson, you can practice a conversation with me using "por" and "para". So guys, see you in the next lesson. Bye!
Quick Summary
(1.) TIME
Por
Approximate moment when something happens
  • Hace mucho frío por la mañana. (It's really cold in the morning.) 
  • Vuelvo a casa por la navidad.  (I'm coming home around Christmas.)
Frequency
  • Voy al gimnasio dos veces por semana. (I go to gym two times per week.)
  • Bebo ocho vasos de agua por día. (I drink eight glasses of water each day.)
Duration (can replace the word "durante")
  • Hierve los huevos por 10 minutos. (Boil the eggs for ten minutes.)
  • Yo viví en España por dos años. (I lived in Spain for two years.)

Para
Deadline
  • Esta tarea es para la próxima semana. (This homework is for next week.)
  • Mi jefe quiere este reporte para el lunes. (My boss wants this report by next Monday.)
(2.) PLACE / SPACE
Por
​Path or route
  • Vamos por la alameda. (Let's take the boulevard.)
  • El tren pasa por Los Ángeles. (The train passes through LA.)
Approximate space / general area
  • Los perros callejeros andan sueltos por las calles. (Homeless dogs wander loose in the streets.)
  • Este río pasa por toda Europa. (This river runs through all of Europe.)
  • ¿Viste mis llaves por acá? (Did you see my keys around here?)

Para
​Final destination
  • Voy para casa. (I'm going home.)
  • Este tren va para San Francisco. (This train goes to San Francisco.)
(3.) CAUSE / GOAL
Por
​Cause or motivation that originally provoked or triggered an event or action
  • Yo trabajo por mi familia. (I work for my family.)
  • Voy a EEUU por mi trabajo. (I'm going to the US for my job.)

​Para
​Goal or objective you want to achieve in the future
  • Voy al supermercado para comprar huevos. (I'm going to the store to buy eggs.)
  • Voy a EEUU para aprender inglés. (I'm going to the US to learn English.)
Recipient of an action or gift
  • Juan está enfermo. Yo preparo sopa para él. (Juan is sick. I'm making soup for him.)
  • Este libro es para principiantes. (This book is for beginners.)
(4.) OTHER USES
Por
​Price, rate, exchange, or substitution
  • Yo compré esta camisa por cinco dólares. (I bought this shirt for five dollars.)
  • Conducimos a 80 kilómetros por hora en la carretera. (I drive 80 km per hour on the highway.)
Mode, tool, or author used to complete an objective or action
  • Llamé a mis papás por teléfono. (I called my parents on the phone.)
  • Esta obra fue pintada por Picasso. (This work was painted by Picasso.)
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