Grammar guide The rule
Por vs para: how to choose in Spanish
Both can translate as “for”, but they look in opposite directions. Por looks back at a cause or a route; para looks ahead to a goal, a recipient or a deadline.
How to choose
Ask whether you are giving a reason or a goal.
- Para
- Purpose and goal In order to, for someone, toward a destination. Estudio mucho para ser médico. · Este regalo es para ti.
- Para
- Deadlines The point in time something must be done by. Necesito el informe para el lunes.
- Por
- Cause and exchange Because of, thanks for, in exchange for, a price. Gracias por todo tu apoyo. · Lo compré por diez euros.
- Por
- Through, during, by means of Movement through a place, a part of the day, a channel. Paseamos por el parque. · por la mañana · por teléfono
Typical mistakes on this topic
What YabLab does with this mistake
- Catches it right as you write — comments, email, docs.
- Explains the why in your language, not just the fix.
- Helps you practice it until it is gone for good.
Grammar topics explained
- Ser vs estar: when to use each in Spanish
- Preterite vs imperfect: when to use each in Spanish
- Spanish subjunctive: when to use it
- Spanish direct object pronouns (lo, la, los, las)
- Spanish accent marks: when to write them
- Saber vs conocer: which “to know” to use
- Stem-changing verbs in Spanish (e→ie, o→ue, e→i)
- Irregular preterite verbs in Spanish