Spanish Prepositions “Por y Para” – The Easy Way to Use Them Perfectly

When it comes to mastering the uses of POR and PARA in Spanish, there is a very simple yet powerful approach that can help you in 95 to 98% of cases and even more.

Instead of teaching all the uses of POR and PARA like all teachers do, I prefer to limit my teaching. Does that mean I’m teaching “less” than I should? I do not think.

After all, my experience has clearly shown me that students are presented with so many rules, patterns, and uses that they cannot use them well in most cases. What should I do? I’m going to the point as I’m going to show you.

When do we use PARA?

1. To express PURPOSE: Every time you can use “para” in English, you must use PARA in Spanish.

I work to earn money (or… to earn money)

I work TO earn money.

2. To show who is the recipient of an action:

I bought these flowers for you.

Buy these flowers FOR you.

3. To display the destination:

I’m going to Spain.

See FOR Spain.

4. When I want to say FOR or FOR A SPECIFIC TIME.

I need your answer by Monday.

I need your answer FOR the moons.

These are all cases where PARA is used. When do you use BY? In all other cases. That’s all! Every time you want to say something and you are not sure whether to say for or for, simply go through this list in your mind: a) IN ORDER TO b) RECIPIENTS c) DESTINATION D) SPECIFIC TIME.

If what you want to express fits any of these possibilities, then the word to use is PARA. If not, use BY.

Pretty simple, right? I challenge you to try to find and do as many exercises on the internet as possible and see for yourself how useful and accurate this approach is!

Enjoy!