The Prepositions Por and Para

The prepositions por and para often cause confusion among Spanish learners. In this grammar point, you will learn when and how to use each.

When to Use Por or Para?

The difference between these two prepositions depends on the speaker's intention.

Por

Rule 1. Por is used to indicate cause, reason, or motive.

Rule 2. It is also used to indicate duration or period of time.

Rule 3. It is used when there is an exchange.

Rule 4. It is used to talk about general movement through space.

Rule 5. Finally, por is used to talk about the times of day.

Para

Rule 1. Para is used to talk about a goal or purpose.

Rule 2. It is used to indicate the recipient of something.

Rule 3. It is used to talk about a destination.

Rule 4. It is used with deadlines.

Rule 5. Finally, para is used when expressing an opinion.

Expressions that Use Por or Para

Rule 6. Some expressions require por or para, and it is convenient to learn them in chunks.

Por

Para