Mastering Por and Para
Practice choosing between por and para for reasons, purposes, destinations, deadlines, recipients and exchanges in everyday Spanish.
Preview
Questions with solutions-
1. Boşluğu doldurun.
Say who you bought the flowers for.
Compré estas flores ___ mi mamá porque hoy es su cumpleaños.
- para
- por
- desde
- durante
Think about which preposition introduces the person who receives a gift.
Show solution
Compré estas flores para mi mamá porque hoy es su cumpleaños.
Use "para" to indicate the recipient of an item or action: the flowers are intended for your mother.
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2. Doğru cevabı seçin.
You want to say that you paid twenty dollars in exchange for two movie tickets. Which sentence is correct?
- Pagué veinte dólares por dos boletos de cine.
- Pagué veinte dólares para dos boletos de cine.
- Pagué por veinte dólares dos boletos de cine.
- Pagué veinte dólares a dos boletos de cine.
In an exchange, the preposition goes right before what you get or before the price you pay.
Show solution
- Pagué veinte dólares por dos boletos de cine.
We use "por" for exchanges and transactions. In "Pagué veinte dólares por dos boletos", "por" connects the money paid with the items received in exchange.
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3. Boşlukları doldurun.
You bought a sweater as a gift for your brother and paid only fifteen dollars for it.
Compré este suéter ___ mi hermano ___ solo quince dólares.
- para
- por
- sobre
- de
- hacia
The first blank introduces the person receiving the gift, and the second introduces the price paid in exchange.
Show solution
Compré este suéter para mi hermano por solo quince dólares.
Use "para" for the recipient ("para mi hermano") and "por" for the money given in exchange ("por solo quince dólares").
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4. Cevabı yazın.
Type "por" or "para" to show that Monday is the deadline for finishing the report.
Necesito terminar este informe ___ el lunes sin falta.
Which preposition points forward to a due date or deadline?
Show solution
- para
Use "para" with deadlines and specific future times by which something must be completed ("para el lunes" means "by Monday").
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5. Doğru cevabı seçin.
Read the sentence and choose the statement that matches its meaning.
Cerraron la carretera por la nieve.
- La nieve fue la causa del cierre de la carretera.
- Cerraron la carretera con el objetivo de limpiar la nieve.
- La carretera va en dirección a las montañas con nieve.
- La carretera estará cerrada hasta el día en que nieve.
Look at what "por la nieve" explains about the road closure.
Show solution
- La nieve fue la causa del cierre de la carretera.
Here "por" expresses the reason or cause behind an event: the road was closed because of the snow.
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6. Boşluğu doldurun.
Express the goal or purpose of saving money.
Estoy ahorrando dinero ___ comprar una computadora nueva.
- para
- por
- de
- con
Before an infinitive verb, which preposition means "in order to"?
Show solution
Estoy ahorrando dinero para comprar una computadora nueva.
Use "para" before an infinitive ("para comprar") to express a purpose or goal ("in order to buy").
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7. Kelimeleri doğru sıraya koyun.
Put the words in order to say that the train leaves for Córdoba at eight.
- El tren
- a las ocho.
- sale para
- Córdoba
Put the destination right after "sale para" and the time at the end.
Show solution
El tren sale para Córdoba a las ocho.
With verbs of movement like "salir" and "ir", "para" indicates the final destination ("sale para Córdoba").
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8. Boşlukları doldurun.
This train's final destination is Mendoza, and along the way it passes through San Luis.
Este tren va ___ Mendoza, pero primero pasa ___ San Luis.
- para
- por
- según
- entre
- contra
One preposition points to the final destination, while the other describes passing through a place along the route.
Show solution
Este tren va para Mendoza, pero primero pasa por San Luis.
Use "para" for the destination ("va para Mendoza") and "por" for the route or a place you pass through along the way ("pasa por San Luis").
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9. Cevabı yazın.
Type "por" or "para" to thank a friend for helping you yesterday.
Muchas gracias ___ ayudarme con la mudanza ayer.
Your friend's help is the reason you are expressing gratitude.
Show solution
- por
After "gracias", always use "por" to introduce the reason you are thankful, whether it is followed by a noun or an infinitive verb.
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10. Boşluğu doldurun.
The shirt you bought doesn't fit, so you want to swap it for a larger size.
Quiero cambiar esta camisa ___ una talla más grande.
- por
- para
- con
- sobre
You are giving one item and receiving another in return.
Show solution
Quiero cambiar esta camisa por una talla más grande.
Use "por" with the verb "cambiar" when exchanging or swapping one thing for another.
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11. Doğru cevabı seçin.
Your coworker Carla is sick, so you are covering her shift in her place. How do you say this?
- Hoy voy a trabajar por Carla porque está enferma.
- Hoy voy a trabajar para Carla porque está enferma.
- Hoy voy a trabajar a Carla porque está enferma.
- Hoy voy a trabajar de Carla porque está enferma.
Think about the difference between working for an employer and substituting for a colleague.
Show solution
- Hoy voy a trabajar por Carla porque está enferma.
"Trabajar por alguien" means to work on someone's behalf or in their place. "Trabajar para alguien" means that person is your boss or employer.
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12. Dinleyin ve cevabı yazın.
Listen and type the sentence you hear.
Listen for the kind of juice and the pronoun at the end.
Show solution
- Preparé un jugo de naranja para ti.
"Para ti" shows that you are the person who receives the orange juice.
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13. Boşlukları doldurun.
The project is due on Friday, and we're worried because of the lack of time.
El proyecto es ___ el viernes y estamos preocupados ___ la falta de tiempo.
- para
- por
- desde
- hacia
- según
Friday is a deadline, and the lack of time is the cause of your worry.
Show solution
El proyecto es para el viernes y estamos preocupados por la falta de tiempo.
Use "para" to state a deadline ("es para el viernes") and "por" to express the cause or reason for an emotion ("preocupados por la falta de tiempo").
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14. Kelimeleri doğru sıraya koyun.
Put the words in order to say why the flight was delayed.
- se retrasó
- por
- El vuelo
- el mal
- tiempo.
Start with the subject and verb, then introduce the cause with "por".
Show solution
El vuelo se retrasó por el mal tiempo.
"Por el mal tiempo" gives the reason or cause for the delay ("because of the bad weather").
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15. Doğru cevabı seçin.
You went to the supermarket to get milk and potatoes. Which sentence expresses this naturally using "por"?
- Fui al supermercado por leche y papas.
- Fui al supermercado para leche y papas.
- Fui por el supermercado para leche y papas.
- Fui para el supermercado por comprar leche y papas.
With verbs like "ir" and "venir", one preposition goes directly before the noun you are going to fetch.
Show solution
- Fui al supermercado por leche y papas.
With verbs of movement, "ir por" + noun means to go get or fetch something (because that item is the motive for your trip). If you include an infinitive verb, you use "para": "Fui al supermercado para comprar leche y papas".