When should I use 'por' and 'para'?

This can be tricky but there are a few ways to remember this: POR: 1. Approximate place / "a traves de" - e.g. el tren de Glasgow pasa POR Linlithgow 2. Approvcimate time (except for hours) - e.g. Vendrán a verte POR Navidad. 3. Cause (reason/explanation) - e.g. Me gusta baloncestoPOR su espectacularidad. 4. 'A cambio de'/'en lugar de'/ 'en nombre de' (when you want por to mean instead of or in the place of) - e.g. El presidente nunca habla POR la ciudadanía. 5. By/through - e.g. La pelicula fue dirigida POR Mar Coll. PARA 1. Destination place - e.g. El tren de Glasgow va PARA Edimburgo. 2. Exact time - e.g. Vendrán a verte PARA la comida de Navidad. 3. Objective/purpose/recipient - e.g. Me gusta jugar a baloncesto PARA estar en forma. 4. 'En opinión de' - e.g. PARA el presidente, la ciudadanía nunca cuenta. 5. Comparison - e.g. PARA lo joven que es, Mar Coll es muy buena directora. These are some good ways to remember the uses of por and para, but if worst comes to worst and you can't remember these in the exam, normally it helps me to say it aloud in your head and usually the one that sounds right is right. 

Answered by Tutor105040 D. Spanish tutor

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