# 33. Por & Para

> Source: [A Complete Guide To Every Fundamental In Spanish (The Conclusion)](https://youtube.com/watch?v=YHDZSHCt1DE&t=8879s)

Both **por** and **para** often translate as "for", but they cover different situations. The simplest mental model: **por** looks **backward** (cause, duration, motion through, exchange); **para** looks **forward** (destination, deadline, purpose, recipient).

## Key Rules
- **Por** = past or current motion/time/action: by/through, during, because of, in search of, in exchange for, per, idiomatic.
- **Para** = future-oriented motion/time/action: destination, deadline, purpose, recipient, comparison, employer.
- They are not interchangeable — switching one for the other usually changes meaning.

## Conjugation / Pattern Tables

### Seven uses of *por*
| # | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Movement (by/through) | Yo fui por el parque. |
| 2 | Duration (during/for) | Lo hice por dos horas. |
| 3 | Reason (because of) | Llegué tarde por el tráfico. |
| 4 | In search of | Yo fui por mi lápiz. |
| 5 | Exchange (in exchange for) | Te di dinero por el boleto. |
| 6 | Per (units of measurement) | 120 kilómetros por hora. |
| 7 | Idiomatic | por ejemplo, por fin, por aquí, por eso. |

### Six uses of *para*
| # | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Destination (movement) | Salgo para Las Vegas el lunes. |
| 2 | Deadline (time) | Lo voy a hacer para el viernes. |
| 3 | Purpose (in order to) | Estudio español para ser profesor. |
| 4 | Recipient | Este regalo es para él. |
| 5 | Comparison/opinion | Para mí, esta lección es fácil. |
| 6 | Employer (work for) | Ella trabaja para Telecom. |

## Examples
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Yo fui por el parque. | I went through the park. |
| Yo lo hice por dos horas. | I did it for (during) two hours. |
| Llegué tarde a la casa por el tráfico. | I got home late because of the traffic. |
| Yo fui por mi lápiz. | I went for / in search of my pencil. |
| Te di dinero por el boleto. | I gave you money in exchange for the ticket. |
| 2 litros por botella. | 2 liters per bottle. |
| Por ejemplo… | For example… |
| Por fin. | At last. |
| Yo salgo para Las Vegas el lunes. | I leave for Las Vegas on Monday. |
| Lo voy a hacer para el viernes. | I'm going to do it by Friday. |
| Yo estudio español para ser profesor. | I study Spanish (in order) to be a teacher. |
| Este regalo es para él. | This gift is for him. |
| Para mí, esta lección es fácil. | For me, this lesson is easy. |
| Ella trabaja para Telecom. | She works for Telecom. |

## Notes & Gotchas
- *Por la mañana* / *por la tarde* / *por la noche* — time of day uses **por** in most regions.
- *Trabajar por alguien* = work in someone's place; *trabajar para alguien* = be employed by them. Big difference.
- *Para que* + subjunctive = "so that" (purpose with a different subject).
- Idiomatic *por*: por aquí, por eso, por favor, por supuesto, por cierto, por desgracia.
- Mental shortcut: **por = looking back / motivation / route**; **para = looking forward / target / endpoint**.
