Por vs Para Practice

Q: What's the easiest way to remember por vs para?

Think of por as backward-looking (cause, exchange, duration, path through) and para as forward-looking (goal, recipient, deadline, destination). Two short mnemonics — DEPRISA for por, PRODUCTO for para — cover most cases.

Q: When do you use por in Spanish?

Use por for duration, exchange or price, movement through a place, cause or reason, on behalf of someone, per (as in per hour), means of communication, and the agent in passive sentences.

Q: When do you use para in Spanish?

Use para for purpose (in order to), the recipient of something, opinions (para mí), deadlines, intended use, comparison against expectations, destination of motion, and goals.

Q: Por or para for thank you in Spanish?

Always por. Gracias por tu ayuda, gracias por venir, gracias por todo. The fixed expression is gracias por + noun or infinitive.

Q: Is it 'trabajo por' or 'trabajo para' a company?

Use para when the company is your employer: trabajo para Google. Use por when you work in someone's place or on their behalf for a specific task: hoy trabajo por mi colega.

Q: Are these por vs para exercises free?

Yes. All 30 exercises on this page are free, run in your browser without any signup, and include a clear explanation after every answer.

Question 1

Este regalo es ___ ti, mi amor.

Accepted Answer

para. Recipients use para — the gift is going to you. Por would suggest in place of you or because of you, neither of which fits.

Question 2

Vivimos en Madrid ___ tres años antes de mudarnos a Valencia.

Accepted Answer

por. Length of time something lasted uses por. Para tres años would suggest a deadline of three years from now.

Question 3

Estudio español ___ poder viajar por Latinoamérica.

Accepted Answer

para. Para + infinitive = in order to. The studying is aimed at the goal of being able to travel.

Question 4

Llegué tarde ___ el tráfico horrible esta mañana.

Accepted Answer

por. Por expresses the cause or reason — the traffic caused the lateness. Compare with porque + verb (because + clause).

Question 5

El informe es ___ el viernes a más tardar.

Accepted Answer

para. Future deadlines use para — the report is due by Friday. Por el viernes would mean around Friday or in place of Friday.

Question 6

Caminamos ___ la playa todas las mañanas.

Accepted Answer

por. Movement through or along a place uses por. Para la playa would mean toward (and stopping at) the beach.

Question 7

Mi vuelo sale ___ Buenos Aires en una hora.

Accepted Answer

para. Destination of motion uses para — the plane is heading toward Buenos Aires. Por Buenos Aires would mean through or around the city.

Question 8

Pagué cincuenta euros ___ esta camisa.

Accepted Answer

por. Exchange (money for goods) uses por — you traded euros for the shirt.

Question 9

___ mí, esta película es la mejor del año.

Accepted Answer

Para. Para + person introduces an opinion (for me, in my view). Por mí can also exist but means as far as I'm concerned or I don't mind, a different sense.

Question 10

El profesor está enfermo, así que enseñaré ___ él hoy.

Accepted Answer

por. Doing something in place of someone uses por. You're substituting for the teacher.

Question 11

Necesito una taza ___ café, no para té.

Accepted Answer

para. What something is used for takes para. Una taza para café = a coffee cup (its function).

Question 12

El coche puede ir a 120 kilómetros ___ hora.

Accepted Answer

por. Por means per in rates and ratios — kilometers per hour, dollars per pound, etc.

Question 13

___ ser su primer día, ha aprendido muchísimo.

Accepted Answer

Para. Para introduces a comparison against expectation — for being his first day, he learned a lot. The translation often becomes for or considering.

Question 14

Which sentence sounds wrong to a native speaker?

Accepted Answer

Pagué diez euros para el libro.. Exchange (paying X for Y) takes por, not para. Pagué diez euros por el libro is the natural Spanish.

Question 15

Don Quijote fue escrito ___ Miguel de Cervantes.

Accepted Answer

por. In the passive voice, the agent (who did it) is introduced by por. Same as English by — written by Cervantes.

Question 16

Compré flores ___ mi abuela en su cumpleaños.

Accepted Answer

para. The flowers are intended for grandma — recipient takes para. Por mi abuela would mean instead of her or because of her.

Question 17

Gracias ___ tu ayuda con el proyecto.

Accepted Answer

por. Gracias por is fixed — you thank someone for (because of) something. Always por after gracias.

Question 18

Llamé al banco ___ resolver el problema con la tarjeta.

Accepted Answer

para. Para + infinitive expresses purpose — I called in order to resolve the problem.

Question 19

El ladrón entró ___ la ventana del baño.

Accepted Answer

por. Entry through a place uses por — through the window. Para la ventana would not make sense here.

Question 20

Trabajo mucho ___ poder pagar la universidad de mis hijos.

Accepted Answer

para. Para + infinitive = in order to / so that. The work serves the goal of paying tuition.

Question 21

Pick the sentence that means I'll do it for you (as a favor, in your place).

Accepted Answer

Lo haré por ti mañana.. Hacer algo por alguien = to do something for someone (as a favor or in their place). Hacer algo para alguien = to do it intended for them as a recipient.

Question 22

Te llamo ___ la tarde, sobre las cinco.

Accepted Answer

por. Por la mañana / tarde / noche refers to approximate time of day. Para la tarde would mean by the afternoon as a deadline.

Question 23

Lo despidieron ___ llegar tarde todos los días.

Accepted Answer

por. Por + infinitive expresses cause — he was fired for arriving late. Para llegar tarde would express purpose, which makes no sense here.

Question 24

Compré champú ___ pelo seco.

Accepted Answer

para. What a product is for (its target use) takes para. Champú para pelo seco = shampoo for dry hair.

Question 25

___ ser tan caro, este restaurante no es muy bueno.

Accepted Answer

Para. Para + infinitive at the start of a sentence often introduces a comparison — for being so expensive, the restaurant isn't great.

Question 26

Los abuelos vienen a visitarnos ___ una semana.

Accepted Answer

por. How long the visit lasts uses por. In modern Spanish you can also drop the preposition: vienen una semana.

Question 27

Trabajo ___ una empresa de software desde hace cinco años.

Accepted Answer

para. When working FOR a company (as your employer), use para. Por la empresa would mean on behalf of the company in a specific instance.

Question 28

Which sentence is wrong?

Accepted Answer

Lo necesito por el lunes.. Future deadlines take para, not por. Lo necesito para el lunes is the natural Spanish.

Question 29

Te envío el contrato ___ correo electrónico esta tarde.

Accepted Answer

por. Means of communication or transport take por — by email, by mail, by phone, by car.

Question 30

Hago ejercicio ___ mantenerme en forma.

Accepted Answer

para. Para + infinitive = in order to. Exercise serves the goal of staying in shape.

Por vs Para Practice

When to use por, when to use para.

Practice.

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