POR & PARA - Mystery Solved

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[@QrooSpanish]

Join the Qroo Spanish Crew for More Content! www.skool.com/qroo Want to thank me? Buy me a coffee www.buymeacoffee.com/qroo

[@wadecampbell7727]

Love your videos and I always learn something or reinforce what I already know. One minor correction: you wrote “everyday” in one of the translations. In 95% of cases, it should be “every day”. “Everyday” is an adjective that means commonplace/ordinary whereas “every day” is a phrase meaning each day/daily. Sorry, pet peeve of mine that I see more and more every day. Hopefully a few people will see this comment and learn the difference. Cheers, and keep up the good work!

[@bhami]

As a native English speaker who has studied Spanish, Russian, and German, my general comment is that preposition usage in Indo-European languages is always idiomatic, and so you'll just need to study dozens of specific examples, such as in this excellent video. There's almost never an exact one-to-one mapping of a preposition in one language onto a single preposition in another language.

[@Robostomp]

So true. More or less I have the prepositions in Spanish worked out but this knowledge doesn't really help me with German. Just got to accept the fact I need to learn and memorize their usage all over again.

[@mwiebe2663]

“Sometimes we don’t always talk about happy things in Spanish, folks.” 😂😂😂 You made me laugh out loud. Certainly lots of examples of “not happy things” in Spanish language music! Lots of songs filled with angst, tears, regret, reclamaciones. “Llorar y llorar, llorar y llorar” (from El Rey, a mariachi classic.)

[@Robostomp]

Talk about Def Con Dos's satire and sarcasm all over the place. "El Coche No" had me laughing, "Muertos del Rock", "Quemé el Liceo", "Basta de Nacimientos", and so on.

[@user-vh4cn7ug7z]

You've explained this for me in exactly the way I needed. I'm trying to learn from native speakers and they can never explain WHY you use por instead of para in some circumstances. You simplify it just the way I need. Thank you so much!!

[@user-96.-]

As far as I'm aware it's generally better to go with a teacher who speaks your language when learning a foreign language.

[@user-vh4cn7ug7z]

@@user-96.- true, but also even in Mexico, the language changes depending on regions. Some regions use different slang, and you're more likely to learn slang from native speakers from that region compared to a teacher that teaches Spanish.

[@liliareyes7252]

Hi It would be very helpful if you can share some PDF exercises so that we can practice on our own to reinforce the lessons. Thank you for your videos. You make it easier to understand

[@rockshot100]

Mr. Paul, Por and para are very confusing, I often just guess, or it is something I have heard. THANKS. Very good explanations, since you are not a native speaker, YOU understand where WE don't understand. I bet you get confused for being a Chicano. Beautiful accent.

[@KeySpanish]

Looking forward to our lesson on Tuesday with the Qroo Spanish Crew!

[@WendyIsaac-qk4sw]

Not too long! I appreciate this type of video the most. A mini class, instead of let's make it super short to meet a new trend or metric. And it's this format that has me reconsidering joining your Crew! :)

[@bradlafferty]

Man, I love this channel! Thank you for a great lesson.

[@QrooSpanish]

My pleasure!

[@Rev14v7]

Yeah, that's helpful. Thanks! I have had trouble with the purpose vs. motivation type of distinctions. I'm slowly getting it. This got me to thinking about porque/por que (without the accent). If por is the counterpart of para, then it would seem that porque would correspond to para que in some way. Apparently it does, and in some cases even triggers the subjunctive. I guess both are conjunctions that link two verb clauses. I'd like to know more about that.

[@QrooSpanish]

Porque is a connector of two clauses. Javier vendió su casa porque perdió su trabajo. It can also begin a sentence to explain why you did something. With por, it means because but it cannot connect two clauses. It is similar to para in that way. It can preceed a noun, which oit most often does, or a verb in the infinitive. You will also see it used often with the neuter article LO. Está arrepentido por lo que hizo. He is repentful for what he did (because of what he did).

[@Rev14v7]

@@QrooSpanish Ok, that makes good sense. So if you need/want to use a conjugated verb, you need porque. Thanks!

[@QrooSpanish]

This video might give you more insight: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoK1lGqbeJyKiK8

[@Rev14v7]

@@QrooSpanish Ok, I'll check that out. Thanks!

[@Brandon-os3qr]

One of the most useful videos I've watched on my Spanish learning journey

[@QrooSpanish]

Awesome, thank you!

[@evanthompson440]

Thank you for the lesson. I've noticed your explanations seem to assume the audience has never learned a second language.

[@ReelReports]

Wow. Just found your channel. Great teacher.

[@QrooSpanish]

Thank you!

[@JeanineLaMonica_fem]

Gracias, porque I always had a problem with these two palabras!

[@rioelmago1210]

Kindly do that separate video with verbs that use "por".te agradezco de antemano.bendiciones abundantes para ti Paul.

[@caro1591]

¡Qué explicación tan claro! Muchas gracias.

[@mrsflyeaglesfly]

Gracias por hacer este video, Paul.

[@Brandon-os3qr]

100% saving this video 🫶🏻🫶🏻

[@jamesfreese4700]

Great as always y helpful-gracias-waiting for the next video!!!

[@majelwhite3755]

Thanks, Paul, for this video! "Was gonna" get around to asking you to address this issue as it's a tough cookie for us non- native speakers. So, many thanks! Well done ( bien hecho)!.

[@QrooSpanish]

Glad it was helpful!

[@user-sz5jm8by2b]

The bombshell video we have all been waiting for! Muchísimo gracias Paul🎉

[@QrooSpanish]

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@user-hg1sy2ev2s]

Muchas gracias por las lecciones! Practico Español e inglés también contigo

[@tobiathon]

I learned early on to use “for or in order to” to replace para, but I still make mistakes between the two, and i think it’s because i would use por when my little trick didn’t work. But learning “because of” in replacement of por is going to help me a lot. Once again, thank you Paul. Maybe I should join the QR Club🤔

[@rickyhansen3822]

Thanks for this lesson. Any lesson you give I learn something. Rick

[@QrooSpanish]

Thanks Rick. And thanks for still following the channel. It's always good to see a familiar face.

[@mrs.godfrey1714]

Thank you Paul, this is definitely a problem for me. Your video was very helpful

[@QrooSpanish]

I'm glad to hear that. Thanks. :)

[@mrs.godfrey1714]

You’re most welcome

[@HeidiSue60]

Thank you. I’ve been wondering

[@romeop2345]

Hey Paul, “el juego fue cancelado” v “el juego se canceló” which one is more commonly used? Could you make a video on this kind of topic because I’ve heard natives say fue cancelado isn’t used that much as we use in English (passive voice) thank you for the video btw

[@QrooSpanish]

Both are pretty common. In a conversation, I would probably use the second. I would use the first if I wanted to add who cancelled it. El juego fue cancelado por el árbitro.

[@sorchamurphy7955]

Eres un genio. Una clase excelente! Gracias Paul 🙏🙏🙏

[@QrooSpanish]

Gracias. Me alegra que te gustara el video.

[@hashmihere6379]

Excellent❤

[@EricDodsonLectures]

Thanks for making this one. It's been plaguing me for a long time.

[@QrooSpanish]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@Donna-vh5ym]

Because of...Genius 💡

[@lizzietippetts1865]

love your videos Qroo and your Spanish accent!! Do you have any tips for improving the understanding of spoken Spanish as i can rattle off sentences then dont know what is being said back to me!! thanks..

[@CynthiaWinward]

You could do a 100 more videos on por verses para and I would still learn something. I still use the wrong one all the time! 😅

[@bjones9942]

That's just too clear, Paul! People are going to start understanding if you're not careful!

[@ruguil57]

Bedankt

[@QrooSpanish]

Thank you!

[@jannaswigart4926]

Great video Paul! The example that always gets me is with voting… por or para… because my brain thinks por=the reason I vote , or para= recipient of my vote. In the end it should be “votar PARA alguien” verdad? If I want to say who I’m casting my vote for??? Vamos a votar para el presidente en noviembre. If I use “votar POR alguien” maybe it would mean you’re illegally using a mail-in ballot of a deceased votar and voting in their place?

[@QrooSpanish]

This one falls into the category of verbs that use por. VOTAR POR something or someone. It has the meaning as "in favor of". If you want to specify the purpose of the vote, as in "in order to do something", then PARA could step in. Voté para mejorar nuestra comunidad. I voted to improve our community. (in order to - purpose). So it helps to think of POR as IN FAVOR OF EN CONTRA DE - AGAINST

[@jannaswigart4926]

@@QrooSpanish good thing I asked! Thank you for that helpful redirection/ explanation!

[@NipomoBeach]

Good morning Qroo, question. If we are interested in learning “Mexican” Spanish, is it important to learn the variations of other American countries? Would a Mexican native traveling have to learn all of the differences in the various countries he travels?

[@larrybrazley6987]

Thanks!

[@QrooSpanish]

Thank you!

[@thewinnemuccaparaglider9556]

I'm interested in Skool Crew, but I'm not clear if there is any practice speaking there. Anyway, thanks for the free lessons and thanks for your book, Functional Spanish. I bought it when I worked in a jail around 2013 or so. Retired now.

[@QrooSpanish]

There are some opportunities to practice. We do have live Zoom classes scheduled throughout the month. Some members also host peer-to-peer Zoom sessions on occasion.

[@ElizhaGreen-hz3dh]

Thanks, super helpful! Just one question, at 10:50 why did Maria 'se fue para Estados Unidos' y no 'se fue a Estados Unidos'? Confused me since you'd just talked about the tendency in Spanish to use 'a' after 'ir'

[@QrooSpanish]

You could say "se fue a Estados Unidos." It is just another way to indicate destination. It is like this in English: She headed off to the U.S. (TO) She headed off for the U.S. (PARA)

[@KiKiQuiQuiKiKi]

An additional way to use por is whenever it involves math, money and time (my own declaration-please comment if I’m wrong). Por is also used in place of by: “Directed by Joe./Dirigida por Joe.” “Driving by your house./Manejando por tu casa.”

[@philshallat9043]

Paul, re the sentence about wanting a faster car, cannot you say: “Quiero cambiar mi caro por uno más rápido?” and avoid the subjunctive altogether?

[@QrooSpanish]

Yes, you can avoid it that way.

[@MikeySlou]

My biggest struggle. This and haber

[@Ramk0core]

Maybe Paul will do a video on that later. As a rule of thumb, think of "haber" as having the same purpose as the English auxiliary verb "to have". But as a standalone verb, it's used where you'd use "there is" in English.

[@Robostomp]

@@Ramk0coreand also "hay que" which serves as "one must/should". For example: "Hay que aprender español para vivir en España" - You need to learn Spanish to live in Spain.

[@kaumingo]

Believe it or not, deciding por or para, i sorta use ¿future or past? to decide.

[@QrooSpanish]

Tell me more about that.

[@kaumingo]

@QrooSpanish ejemplo: ¿Para qué lo hiciste? vs ¿Por qué lo hiciste? The answer to ¿Para? is always future. The answer to ¿por? is always past. Just generalizing to give clues about "feeling" which one to use. ☆

[@englishplease4395]

Do you take "by Friday" to mean that the report could actually be handed in on Friday at, say, 4 pm, and not on Thursday evening at the latest?

[@QrooSpanish]

Yes, I would take it that way. As long as it is delivered on Friday.

[@tchrist141]

FSW in the house!

[@QrooSpanish]

Haha, good eye!

[@Ecovaluations]

Is this para-por distinction the same in European Spanish?

[@lindapirie168]

Yes. I speak European Spanish.

[@gerlautamr.656]

Yes

[@Waltaere]

Pauul 😃

[@bjrneanderson2805]

I have paid, but i have problems with the access and email etc, more then me have these problems?

[@QrooSpanish]

Send me an email and we'll get it fixed: [e-mail]

[@jimboslice3451]

I find south American Spanish easier than common Spanish it's more relaxed

[@jasonlassiter9229]

I always thought por meant by? I guess it means millions of things in English, just choose one out of the million. Lmao

[@galloitaliano27VEVO]

Fui a comprar pan a la tienda. Fui a la tienda a comprar pan. A la tienda fui a comprar pan. Pan fui a comprar a la tienda. A comprar pan fui a la tienda. Todas las formulas pueden usarse, porque significan lo mismo ¿no es este idioma maravilloso? Jajajajajajajajaja 😂😂😂😂😂.

[@JeffC-fq1be]

13:50: I don't get it. What's unusual about "pagué la comida?"

[@QrooSpanish]

They are saying "pagué POR la comida"

[@JeffC-fq1be]

@@QrooSpanish I don't know how I missed that! :)

[@philshallat9043]

Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE the subjunctive. If it were human I’d consider marrying it.

[@QrooSpanish]

Haha

[@andrew6516]

Think it would be simpler to say that pagar is equivalent purchase. Saying it means paid for but doesn’t mean paid for isn’t accurate.

[@andrew6516]

Also don’t you think durante(15:00) is closer to during than for? Like we use for in English but technically the words duration, during and endure all exist in English and function pretty much equivalently

[@jasonlassiter9229]

That’s why I get so damn frustrated about learning another “Idioma”. The word platos means both plates and dishes in English, so if someone is talking about platos and they are not pointing at or specifying what they are talking about, then how do you know if that person is talking about dishes or plates?

[@rutwikmudholkar8362]

"Dishes" is ambiguous in English as well, since a dish is a plate. "I wash the dishes" could mean that I wash all the plates and cutlery or that I wash only the plates. Context, like in any language, is important.