7.B Por and Para
Two very common prepositions that cause a lot of confusion are por y para (for). Here are when to you each of them;
1) Para; indicated the final destination that something or someone is heading to. Para is used to indicate:
a) Purpose, objective
Vamos a Madrid para ver la película We are going to Madrid to see the movie
b) Recipient
El pastel es para los niños The cake is for the kids
c) Direction to a destination
Vamos para la casa de mi amiga We are going to my friends house
d) Seasonal period
La publicación es para otoño The publication is for the Fall
2) Por; indicate the space that is traveled to get from one place to another. Por is used to indicate;
a) Determined location
In space:
Doy un paseo por el centro de la ciudad I go for a walk through downtown
In time:
Por la mañana vamos al cine In the morning we go to the movies
b) Cause
No fuimos a la playa por el viento We didn’t go to the beach because of the wind
c) Distribution
He repartido dos cupcakes por niño. I distributed two cupcakes per child
d) Means
Hemos hablado por teléfono We talked on the phone
f) Exchange
Lo compramos por 20 dólares We bought it for $20