
So consider this tip a loose rule, which excludes a few sneaky exceptions.įirst things first: both por and para link two parts of a sentence. Of course, this super-simple rule won’t necessarily apply to every por or para in Spanish you come across (learning Spanish would be a walk in the park, otherwise!). Since we know it can take a while to get a sense for these things, we’ve got a simple technique for you to help you decide when to use por, and when to use para. Not much of a reader, but still want help with por and para? Check out Busuu’s specialised unit on the subject. Which means you’ll need to immerse yourself in Spanish in order to get a feel for which Spanish prepositions to use in which contexts. – don’t necessarily have an exact match in other languages. You see, prepositions – words like for, by, to etc. The key to understanding whether to use por or para is to think of the meaning you want to convey, rather than the exact translation. There are many other translations for por and para in English – and it all depends on the context.

While this isn’t wrong, it’s not entirely true. But like with any element of a language, mastering the difference between por and para takes a bit of practice.īut first, let me dispel a myth: one of the reasons you may find it complex is because Spanish learners are often told that por and para both mean for. Understanding the difference may feel tricky. If your answer is too many, then hold tight and stay on the page: you’re in good hands here.

How many times has this nagging thought caused you tail off mid-sentence?
