Para and por rents of Spanish quickly discover that the prepositi se Se eh ae a per foe pon closer inspection, we find out that each has several other meanings of those meanings are shared by both prepositions, and others are uniquets one of them. niqueto ‘The issues encountered with para and por are sometimes those of ser and estar, both of which translate as English “to be” inhouse leer ‘nd estar, there is one verb in English that corresponds to two verbs in Spanish, tach with a list of rules to absorb. . However, an important distinction between these two pairs of words is that ser and estar, in most grammatical instances, are not interchangeable. When a erson makes an error using ser or estar, that error will register asa mistake in the hrind of the listener (the bad news), but the listener will nearly always be able to ‘Gx’ the mistake in his or her mind and understand what the speaker intended (the good news). Para and por, on the other hand, are grammatically interchangeable a good deal of the time. You can use one or the other, and you will produce a perfectly well-structured sentence (the good news). However, most listeners lack mind- reading skills, and they will therefore assume that you mean what you are actually saying, which is not always the case (the bad news). Consider the following pair of sentences (their differences will be explained more clearly later in the chapter): just Luciano canta para Placido. Luciano sings for Placido. Luciano canta por Placido. Luciano sings for Placido. While both sentences translate as “Luciano sings for Placido.” they have very dif- ferent meanings. In the first sentence, Luciano is singing to Placido: Luciano is on the stage, and Placido is sitting happily in the audience listening to the music. In the second sentence, Luciano is singing on behalf of Placido: Placido is nowhere to be found, and Luciano takes his place. In this context, Luciano replaces Placido. In a nutshell, think of para as an arrow. In one way oF another, para tells where something is going. Por, on the other hand, is like a balance scale, equaliz- ing what is on both sides of the preposition. | Thus we must be extremely careful in using para and por. In this chapter, we examine the various meanings of each one in turn: first para, then por. After Working with them individually, we mix them up, as we do in everyday ‘conversa- tion. Para and por, even though they are just “little words” provide the Spanish Speaker with a rich way to describe various relationships cof people and things. 131 eeeY Pai its origi ard its destinati Para goes forward, like an arrow, away from its origin towar sation, and Usually in, i a direc, straight route, he following four categories: destiny, “The uses of para can be neatly placed into the following f g : pose, deadline, and standard. In all four of these categories, which are discussed in deta para indicates distinguishing qualities of nouns in a sentence, often with movement towards specific goal or destination. Para: destination Para indicates the destination of someone or something, whether that destination, is real of imag, ined. Para tells where something is going, could go, or perhaps should go. In this conte, nearly always translates as the English “for.” To indicate real or imagined destination REAL Este jabén es para el bao. ‘This soap is for the bathroom. (in the sense of “belongs in”) This telephone is for that office. (in the sens of “goes into”) ‘My house is good for the party. Romeo is perfect for Juliet. Este teléfono es para esa oficina. imacineo Mi casa es buena para Ja fiesta. Romeo es perfecto para Julieta To express the recipient of an action Para tells not only where, but also to whom somethin, which translates as English “for” in this context. g is going. The recipient always follows para, ‘Tengo el dinero para Juan. Thave the money for John. Estos regalos son para mi. These gifts are for me. To indicate direction and/or final destination Para concerns itself only with the final destination, not with any temporary stops along the way. (Contrast this with the use of por to indicate an intermediate destination.) In this context, para can translate as either English “to” or “for” Los astronautas van para la luna, ‘The astronauts go to the moon. Salimos para la iglesia a las nueve. We leave for church at nine oclock. To indicate an action’s aim or objective, including profession Para is used to indicate the final destination or objective of your studies—or what you want to be. For example, in universities in the United States, students often talk about their major. In Spanis a student majoring in biology could say, Estudio para médico, which translates ag “Ym studi to bea physician,’ focusing on the final destination. The verb “to be” in this context is understo and therefore can be omitted. You can, if you want, include ser (“to be”), as in the sentence Est” dio para ser médico. Note that with this usage, the profession usually remains singular in Spam ish, even when the subject is plural, asin the second example below, Ella estudia para electricista, She is studying to be an electrician. Ellos estudian para carpintero. ‘They are studying to be carpenters.( uanacueneenn- BR Aathy esa: PUTPON® | FT, express Purpose before an infin; something’ purpose is the reason that it = wefor, use para + VERB. Because aa a verb is J gays be Para + INFINITIVE. This use Una pluma estilogréfica es Estos zapatos son para co, t exists. In describ is never con cing what somethi ugated ‘ing does, or what it Of para translates ag Ege Prepesition, the format will Para escribi for! re A fountain pen is ‘ a a. qo indicate purpose for doing Something; “in, so give the reason for doing something, use pare 4 sore 0” English “to” or “in order to” INFINITIVE, | | for writing are for running, before an infinitive in this case, para translates as Yo como para vivir. Estudiamos para aprender, Teat to live. We study in order to learn, para: deadline qo express a specific time limit or deadline in the future Use para to specify a time limit or deadline in the future, a certain action to have been completed. In this context, however, it can also mean “for,” “on; or “no later than” for example, to state by when you need Para usually translates as English “by’s ‘Tenemos que hacer esto para esta noche. We have to do this by tonight. Necesita el vestido para el fin de semana. She needs the dress for the weekend. Necesitamos el informe para el sébado. We need the report on Saturday, Necesito la ropa para el jueves. Ineed the clothes no later than Thursday. To express a limited time span in the future Use para to express an action that stretches out over a specific period of time in the future. Typi- | cally, this is a generalized period of time, as opposed to a period that begins at a speci hour and then ends at a specific hour in the future. This use of para translates as English “for” He has work for the summer. i ara el verano. El tiene empleo p- dos semanas. We have a house reserved for two weeks. ‘Tenemos una casa reservada para Para: standard / ; To express a comparison to a certain standar. When comparing someone or something that goes Pee ae typically be expected, use para to express that comparison. | ee Paco is tall for his age. Paco es alto para su edad. Tee warm for January. Hace calor para enero. d what is expected to what would cases translates as the dard imply, To express an opinion oF Person en ml pin ee pa ae inion” can say, ” is cont b Tnorder to say, “in my oP ocd with oth names and pronouns. In | Para mi. This construct | L as English “for” or me Sprit oy fiol es hermoso- For Paco, Portia! Para mi, el espaol ea mejor cued: pornandpor 133 Para Paco, Portlan: neSummary The four categories of the uses of para are listed below. Use this list when doing the exercise, th follow. 1. Destination a. To indicate real or imagined destination b. To express the recipient of an action © To indicate direction and/or final destination - 4. To indicate an action’s aim or objective, including profession 2. Purpose e. To express purpose before an infinitive 3 — f. To indicate purpose for doing something; “in order to” before an infinitive 3. Deadline g. To express a specific time limit or deadline in the future h. To express a limited time span in the future 4. Standard To express a comparison to a certain standard J. To express an opinion or personal standard [ajenercio) Write the letter from the preceding summary list that corresponds to the reason for using Para in each of the following sentences. 1. Tenemos que pagar los impuestos (taxes) para el 15 de abril. Santa Claus sdlo tiene carbén para ella. Pongo la radio para escuchar la miisica. Vamos para Amsterdam este verano. Para Gregorio, un presidente debe ser diplomitico. Para recibir buenas notas (grades), necesitas trabajar mucho. 2. 3. 4 5. 6 7. Camila toma clases para actriz. 8. Este jabén es para el cuerpo y ése es para la cara, 9. jPara un restaurante de cuatro estrellas, esta comida estd horrible! (0. Este papel es para envolver regalos. 11. Para Abby, mirar una pelicula es una buena manera de pasar la noche. 12. Ellas estudian para bibliotecarias, 13, Esté muy nublado para un dia de junio. 14, 15. 16, Este detergente es para lavar la ropa. Para mi, es muy bueno sacar fotos de ocasiones importantes. Tienes que hacer algo para tu novia en el dia de San Valentin, 134 PREPOSITIONS _