Prepositions por and para

Prepositions por and paraLas preposiciones por y para Level 1 1.1 Basic differences between para and por Diferencias b ´asicas entre para y por 1.2 Basic uses of para Usos b ´asicos de p

Prepositions por and para

(Las preposiciones por y para)

Level 1

1.1 Basic differences between para and por (Diferencias b ´asicas entre para y por)

1.2 Basic uses of para (Usos b ´asicos de para)

1.3 Basic uses of por (Usos b ´asicos de por)

The two Spanish prepositions para and por cause a great deal of confusion, partly

because they can sometimes be translated by the same English preposition for They are

treated apart from the other prepositions since, by comparing and contrasting them,

it is hoped that you will be able to distinguish between them more clearly The first

most important feature that separates them is that para indicates direction or purpose while por indicates cause or an act performed on behalf of or through someone Three

contrastive examples will illustrate this point

i

Mi hermana tiene un e-mail para m´ı My sister has an e-mail for me (and is

waiting to give it to me, for example)

Mi hermana escribe un e-mail por m´ı My sister writes an e-mail for me (i.e on my

behalf or because I do not do it myself)

Vamos para las monta˜nas Let’s head towards the mountains

Vamos por las monta˜nas Let’s go through the mountains

Dale el dinero para el carro Give him the money for the car (i.e so that

he can buy it)

Dale el dinero por el carro Give him the money for the car (i.e in

exchange for)

ii A further example containing both prepositions in the same sentence will make the

difference even clearer:

Mi hermano hizo la tarea por m´ı para la maestra My brother did my homework for me for

the teacher

In this sentence, por suggests on behalf of while para suggests destination.

We shall firstly consider the uses of para and then those of por.

24 Prepositions por and para

1.2 Basic uses of para

i Purpose

Mi prima estudia para (ser) ingeniero My cousin is studying to be an engineer

Llamo para felicitarte I call to congratulate you

ii Destination

Tengo un mensaje para ti I’ve got a message for you

Saca un billete para Santander He’s buying a ticket for Santander

iii Going towards a place

La veo cuando voy para la facultad I see her on my way to the university

iv Changing direction

Tuerces para la derecha cuando Go to the right when

v Indicating a point in time (usually in the future)

Te dejo mi departamento (M) para las vacaciones I’ll leave my apartment for you for the

vacation

vi Indicating limit of date, month, etc.

Acaban las obras para Semana Santa The (road)works will be finished by Holy

Week

vii Expressing opinions

Para m´ı, todo el mundo se equivoca As far as I’m concerned, everyone’s wrong

1.3 Basic uses of por

i In passive statements when a person is the agent

El teatro fue construido por un buen arquitecto The theater was built by a good architect

ii Indicating passing through or across

Vamos a Madrid por ´ Avila We go to Madrid via Avila

Miro por la ventana I look out of the window

Me paseo por la calle I walk down the street

iii Indicating a vague idea with respect to place

Los soldados se esconden por alg´un pueblo de

Zamora

The soldiers hide in some village in (the province of ) Zamora

¿Pasamos por aqu´ı, verdad? We go this way, don’t we?

¿Hay un banco por aqu´ı? Is there a bank (around) here?

iv Indicating approximate time

Regreso (M) / Vuelvo por Semana Santa I’ll be back for Holy Week

v Indicating a specific point of time in the day

Los jefes se re´unen por la ma˜nana/tarde/noche The leaders meet in the morning/

afternoon / at night

vi Indicating frequency or speed with respect to time

Corre a ciento cincuenta kil´ometros por hora She’s traveling/racing at a hundred miles an

hour

Hace dieta dos veces por semana She diets twice a week

vii Indicating cause

viii Indicating “on behalf of ,” “for the sake of ”

Voy al supermercado por ti I go to the superstore for you

Celebran una misa por su alma They say mass for his soul

Firma por su esposa He signs for his wife

ix Suggesting “by means of”

Me entero por la prensa I learn of it through the newspapers

Lo pago por el banco I pay it through the bank

Exercises Level 1

i Insert para or por in the space In some cases, both para and por are possible but the

meaning can be different Indicate where the possibilities exist.

a Alquil´e una bicicleta ( ) ir de paseo

b Lo salud´e ( ) tu parte

c Mam´a prepara la fiambrera ( ) la comida

d Creo que los chicos perdidos est´an ( ) all´ı

e El peque ˜no duerme un par de horas ( ) la tarde

f Es un bar ( ) estudiantes

g Hay que pagar cinco euros ( ) persona

h ¿Tiene dos boletos ( ) Tijuana?

i Es casi seguro que terminar´e mi tarea ( ) enero

j Les dimos la casa ( ) dos meses

k Perdieron ( ) cinco goles a uno

l Pasamos por Oaxaca ( ) ir a Palenque

m Se compr´o un apartamento ( ) ciento cincuenta mil euros

n Ve ( ) la izquierda al llegar a la esquina

o Todo el mundo es loco ( ) ´el

p Este edificio fue derribado ( ) la empresa

q Con tanto bulto no pasas ( ) la puerta

r Lo supe ( ) tu padre

24 Prepositions por and para

ii Paired activity

Objective – To understand the differences between por and para

Method – Engage in a discussion to work out why por and para are used in the following

five pairs of sentences Try to distinguish their use and meaning

a (1) Quieren ir por el museo (2) Quieren ir para el museo

b (1) Estoy limpiando la casa por la fiesta (2) Estoy limpiando la casa para la fiesta

c (1) Dale el dinero por el regalo (2) Dale el dinero para el regalo

d (1) El hombre est´a por confesar la verdad (2) El hombre est´a para confesar la verdad

e (1) Hace la tarea por m´ı (2) Hace la tarea para m´ı

Now, each pair finds two more pairs of sentences like these above to present

to the class.

Level 2

2.1 More information on para (M ´as datos sobre para)

2.2 More information on por (M ´as datos sobre por)

i Indicating “as” or “with the status of ”

Nuestra candidata no sali´o para alcaldesa Our candidate did not get the mayor’s post

ii Suggesting some undisclosed thought

Aquel lugar es ideal, pens´o el conde para s´ı That’s an ideal spot, the count thought to

himself

“No me atrevo,” dije para m´ı “I dare not,” I said to myself

iii Suggesting comparison or contrast

No hace demasiado calor para ser agosto It’s not hot enough to be August

iv Corresponding to “in order to”

Trabaja mucho para ascender a jefa She works a lot to become the boss

Estudio bastante para ir a la universidad I work quite a lot to go to university

v Suggesting sufficiency or necessity

El agua es necesaria para la vida Water is necessary for life

vi Used with verbs like quedar, faltar, and restar indicating time left to do something

or distance to be covered

Faltan dos horas / diez kil´ometros para llegar al

pueblo

There are two hours / six miles left to reach the town

*Quedan/restan dos semanas para las vacaciones There are two weeks before the vacation

*Quedar is used much more than restar in this context

vii Indicating mood or opportunity to do something (usually this has a negative idea)

No estoy para bromas I’m not in the mood for joking

La oficina est´a para pocos gastos The office is not keen on spending money

viii Used in conjunction with demasiado and suficiente

Esta casa es demasiado grande para m´ı This house is too big for me

No tengo suficiente dinero (como) para compr´artelo I haven’t enough money to buy it for you

ix Other uses

Es para volverse loco It’s enough to send you mad

No es para creerlo You really can’t believe it

x Para is also used in conjunction with con = towards

Es muy simp´atico para con todo el mundo He’s very nice with everyone

i Indicating cause

Detuvieron al alcalde por el asesinato de su mujer They arrested the mayor for the murder of

his wife

ii Used frequently before an abstract noun

Lo hice por placer I did it for pleasure

Le dio todo su dinero por amor He gave her all his money out of love

Les pagu´e las vacaciones por cari˜no I paid for their vacation out of affection

Lo hizo por inadvertencia She did it by mistake

No escrib´ı la carta por descuido I didn’t write the letter by an oversight

No contest´o por dignidad She didn’t answer out of dignity

Visitaba al enfermo por compasi´on I would visit the sick person out of

compassion

Lo acompa˜n´e por amistad I accompanied him out of friendship

No felicit´o al ganador por despecho He didn’t congratulate the winner out of

spite

iii Indicating intensification and followed by an infinitive

Gritaba por gritar He shouted for shouting’s sake

iv Indicating rate

Se vende por docenas It’s sold by the dozen

La tasa es del ocho por ciento The rate is eight percent

v Indicating manner and means

Es mexicano por adopci´on He’s Mexican by adoption

por aire/carretera/ferrocarril/mar/tierra by air/road/railroad/sea/land

La informaron por carta They informed her by letter

24 Prepositions por and para

Les mand´e el dinero por correo I sent them the money by mail

Lo o´ımos por la radio/televisi´on We heard it on the radio/television

La conoc´ı por su sombrero I recognized her by her hat

Lo inform´o por escrito She informed him in writing

vi Used in adverbial idioms of manner

por cierto certainly por un lado / una parte on the one hand

por consiguiente in consequence por otro lado / otra parte on the other hand

por el contrario on the contrary por lo tanto therefore

por desgracia unfortunately por ´ultimo at last

por lo general / regla general generally por lo visto apparently

Ejemplos

Por desgracia muri´o antes de acabar la novela Unfortunately she died before finishing the

novel

El jefe nos fue entrevistando a todos por separado The boss went on interviewing us all

separately

¡Por fin/´ultimo ha llegado! She has finally arrived!

Por un lado no tengo el dinero y ¡por otro no quiero

d´artelo!

On the one hand I haven’t the money and

on the other I don’t want to give it to you!

vii Por with other prepositions, usually suggesting movement

Corrieron por entre los ´arboles They ran among trees

Pas´o por detr´as de la silla He went round the back of the chair

El avi´on vol´o por debajo del puente The airplane flew under the bridge

Salt´o por encima del muro She jumped over the wall

Me pregunt´o por mediaci´on de su amigo She asked me via a friend

Sal´ı a por el peri´odico I went out to get the newspaper

The last example in this list is colloquial, but the construction is very common The

alternative, perhaps more acceptable, is Sal´ı por el peri ´odico which is what a Mexican

would say

viii Used with a variety of verbs

Tengo una novela por terminar I have a novel to finish

Me quedan varias cosas por comprar I’ve got a few things to buy

Empezar´e por exponer el nuevo plan I’ll begin by developing the new plan

Acabar´an por despedirte They’ll end up dismissing you

Votaron por los dem´ocratas They voted for the democrats

Me he decidido por el coche blanco I’ve decided on the white car

Exercise Level 2

i Inserta para o por en el blanco En algunos casos, cabe tanto para como por Indica

donde existen las dos posibilidades

a Me pongo nerviosa al leer en voz alta, prefiero leer ( ) m´ı

b Pasaron ( ) entre las columnas

c Lo dije ( ) gestos

d Gloria tiene muy buen aspecto ( ) lo enferma que est´a

e El autocar choc´o ( ) ir demasiado r´apidamente

f El cient´ıfico recibi´o dinero ( ) sus investigaciones

g Pas´e todo el d´ıa en casa ( ) preparar la cena

h ¡( ) Dios!

i Sus pap´as lo castigaron ( ) llegar demasiado tarde

j La comida era suficiente ( ) diez personas

k Tan s´olo quedan dos meses ( ) las vacaciones

l ( ) la cara que traes yo dir´ıa que est´as enfadada

m No ( ) mucho hablar te vas a ganar su confianza

n Restaban dos semanas ( ) el fin de las clases

o Se puso un mandil ( ) no mancharse

p ( ) Ant´on esta ciudad es todo lo que puede so ˜nar cualquier persona

q Los beneficios se multiplican ( ) diez

r ¿( ) qui´en es la misa?

s ( ) Navidades ya estar´as completamente curado

t ( ) ser profesionales juegan bastante mal

u La chica sali´o de casa ( ) propia iniciativa

v No me encuentro bastante bien ( ) ir al trabajo

w ¿Qui´en eres t´u ( ) darme ´ordenes?

x Los socios preguntan ( ) el supuesto

y ( ) una vez que me invitas pod´ıa haber sido en un restaurante mejor

z Me agarr´o ( ) los hombros

aa Sujet´o la olla ( ) el asa

bb Te doy mi carro ( ) tu moto

cc Este no es motivo ( ) despedirla´

dd Pregunt´e ( ) Juana

ee Pongo a Dios ( ) testigo

ff El futuro est´a ( ) llegar

Unit 25 (Unidad 25)

Adverbs (Los adverbios)

Level 1

1.1 Formation of adverbs (Formaci ´on de adverbios)

1.2 Adverbial expressions (Expresiones adverbiales)

1.3 Other adverbs (Otros adverbios)

i Adverbs in Spanish, as in English, are formed in different ways However, the most

common way for creating an adverb in Spanish is by adding -mente to the feminine

form of the adjective:

r´apidamente quickly perfectamente perfectly

solamente only

Examples

Corre r´apidamente/lentamente She runs quickly/slowly

Habla perfectamente el alem´an He speaks German perfectly

Come solamente verduras She only eats vegetables

Anuncia p´ublicamente que He announces publicly that

It is obvious from these examples that, in Spanish, there are almost as many adverbs as there are adjectives It should be added that Spanish adverbs are invariable, that they modify verbs, and are frequently placed next to them

ii Adjectives which have no distinctive feminine form add -mente in the usual way:

Examples

Regresa felizmente a casa She returns home happily

Hay que trabajar constantemente You have to work constantly

iii Adverbs formed with -mente are pronounced as two words, each part retaining its

accent, both written and spoken:

s´olidamente solidly cort´esmente courteously

po´eticamente poetically originalmente originally

iv When two or more of these adverbs occur in immediate succession, only the last

receives the ending -mente, the others assuming the form they would have if -mente were to be added This takes place when more than one adverb of the -mente type

modify the same verb:

Escribe clara, concisa y elegantemente She writes clearly, concisely and elegantly

gradual pero insensiblemente gradually but imperceptibly

v The adverb recientemente is shortened to reci ´en before past participles used

adjectivally:

Lleg´o recientemente She arrived recently but

con la cara lavada y reci´en peinada with a face freshly washed and recently

combed hair

vi Often Spanish adverbs can be clumsy with the ending -mente, unlike the lighter

English -ly, and there is always the possibility of avoiding this clumsiness For

instance, a noun preceded by con is often a suitable alternative:

industriosamente> con industria industriously

orgullosamente> con orgullo proudly

prudentemente> con prudencia prudently

El chico anuncia con orgullo que

ha ganado el premio

The boy proudly announces that he has won the prize

Es importante manejar con prudencia It’s important to drive carefully

i A further variety may be obtained by a phrase composed of de (una) manera, de (una)

forma or de (un) modo:

de (una) manera uniforme in a uniform manner

de (una) manera amistosa in a friendly manner

de (un) modo elegante in an elegant way

The inclusion of the indefinite article before these nouns makes the expression more formal

ii Some adjectives which do not end in o or have a distinct feminine form cannot take

the suffix -mente:

de (una) manera preguntona inquisitively

de (una) forma holgazana in an idle way

25 Adverbs

There is of course a whole range of Spanish adverbs which do not derive from adjectives and which are adverbs in their own right These include:

mal badly poco little pronto soon

peor worse menos less tarde late

Pocos hablan bien dos idiomas Few people speak two languages well

Con estos lentes (M) veo mejor With these glasses I can see better

Me quedan s´olo tres I’ve only got three left (Only three remain to

me)

Como s´olo legumbres I only eat vegetables

Toca mucho el piano She plays the piano a lot

Siempre salgo de casa a las ocho I always leave home at eight

Es importante llegar a tiempo It’s important to arrive on time

Exercises Level 1

i Complete the sentences with adverbs based on the following adjectives There can

be an alternative:

directo, inmediato, paciente, posible, r´apido, f´acil, puntual, tranquilo, total, constante,

´unico, cari ˜noso, afectuoso, amable, respetuoso, cruel, sumo, alto, dulce, largo, ciego, independiente, nuevo, feliz, cort´es

Example

lento

¿Puedes hablar un poco m´as ( ) ?> ¿Puedes hablar un poco m´as lentamente?

a Viven ( ) con sus tres ni ˜nos

b Su padre ( ) lee peri´odicos

c Los novios se despidieron ( )

d Nos acogieron ( )

e Deber´as sonre´ırle ( )

f Su padre le peg´o ( )

g Hay que saludarlos ( )

h El problema es ( ) dif´ıcil

i Subir por all´ı es ( ) peligroso

j La madre le dijo ( ) que le ten´ıa mucho cari ˜no

k La cuesti´on ha sido ( ) debatida

l Conf´ıa ( ) en su padre

m Le contest´e ( ) que era muy amable

n La familia est´a esperando ( ) en la cola