SCENARIO
Imagine
you are talking to a relative, a friend or a colleague. Maybe you
need to fetch some everyday basic items. The other person wonders if
you are going to fetch some bread and says to you something like:
"tell me, are you going to get some bread?".
In
Spanish, he/ she could choose to be less formal and say to you:
Dime,
¿vas por el pan?
On the
other hand, he/ she could choose to be more formal and say to you:
Dígame,
¿va (usted) por el pan?
OUR
TIP
The
question is an invitation for you to say whether you are going to
fetch bread. When you say what you are going to fetch, you DO NOT
need to be concerned about the level of formality in the other
person's question. Your main concern should be about saying whether
you are going to fetch bread.
Here are a couple
of examples of what you could say, whilst practising the use of
“por”:
- Sí, voy por* el pan (yes, I am going to fetch bread);
- No, ahora no voy por* el pan, iré más tarde (no, I am not going to fetch bread now, I will go later);
Now you should
practise using “por” in replying to someone who says to
you:
Dime,
¿vas por el pan?
*Please
see grammar below
Grammar-”POR”
The
use of “por” and “para” often causes some
confusion amongst learners of Spanish. This post deals with the uses
of “por”. A separate series of blog posts is dedicated to
the uses of “para”.
In
this post we look at a number of situations in which “por”
is commonly used. “Por” is commonly used in the following
cases:
1.
Passive Voice Constructions
Passive voice
constructions, although perhaps less common in Spanish than they are
in English, are nonetheless very similar in both languages.
In Spanish, “por”
is used in passive voice constructions very much as “by”
is used in the English counterparts. That is, “por” is
placed before the agent in Spanish passive voice constructions.
Some
examples of the use of “por” in passive voice
constructions are shown below:
- Fui multado por la policía de tráfico (I was fined by the traffic police);
- ¿Fuiste despachado por esa dependienta? (were you attended by that sales assistant?);
- El Quijote fue escrito por Miguel de Cervantes (Don Quixote was written by Miguel de Cervantes);
- ¿Fuisteis llamados por la empresa? (were you called by your employer?);
- Esos libros fueron comprados por mi padre (those books were bought by my father);
2.
Motives
In Spanish “por”
is be used to express the motive or justification for some actions or
events. Typical expressions of motive or justification could be:
- <someone does something> due to <something/ some action>;
- <something happens> due to <something/ some action>;
Examples
of the use of “por” in this type of expression are
shown below:
- No puedo viajar por falta de dinero (I cannot travel due to the lack of money);
- Perdiste el tren por haber llegado tarde (you missed the train because you arrived late);
- Pedro no nos escribió por falta de tiempo (Pedro didn't write to us because he didn't have time);
- Fuimos al gimnasio por necesidad (we went to the gym because we needed to do it);
- Por una estupidez perdisteis un buen amigo (because of something stupid you lost a good friend);
- Por el calor que hacía se desencadenó una enorme tormenta (because of the hot weather a huge storm developed);
3.
Places
In Spanish “por”
is often used with the names of places or objects with the following
typical meanings:
- With verbs such as “ir”/ “venir”/ “volver”/ “pasar” and other similar verbs, “por” is placed before the name of a place or an object to mean “through”. For example:
- Este tren pasa por Madrid (this train passes through Madrid);
- Ese vuelo va por Barcelona (that flight goes via Barcelona);
- Pasamos por el puente (we went over the bridge);
- Volvimos a casa por el parque (we returned home through/ via the park);
- El agua pasa por la tubería (water flows through the pipe);
- With verbs such as “atravesar”/ “cruzar” and similar verbs, “por” is placed before a name of a place or an object to mean “through”. For example:
- Cruzamos la calle por el paso de peatones (we crossed the road by the pedestrian crossing);
- Atravesamos Londres por el centro (we crossed London through the centre);
4.
Places - Whereabaouts
In
Spanish “por”
is often used with verbs such as
“estar”/
“encontrarse”
and similar verbs, to indicate the location of something without
giving specific details.
For
example:
- ¿Tu casa está por aquí? (is your house around here?);
- Mis libros están por ahí (my books are in/ around there);
- Las mejores tiendas se encuentran por el centro (the best shops are around he centre);
- Andamos por Londres (we are in/ around London);
- Paseamos por el parque (we had a walk in/ around the park);
5.
Holding/ Grabbing
In
Spanish “por”
is often used with verbs such as
“agarrar”/
“sujetar”/
“tener”
and similar verbs, to indicate the specific part “by”
which something or someone is grabbed/ held/ handled/ etc..
For
example:
- Tengo la raqueta por el cuello (I have the racket by the neck – of the racket!);
- Pedro me agarró por el brazo (Pedro grabbed me by the arm);
- Sujetar la olla por las asas (hold the pot by the handles);
6.
Favour
In
Spanish “por”
is often used with verbs such as
“hacer”/
“votar”
and many similar verbs, to express what is done “for
the sake of”/ “in
favour of” someone or
something.
For
example:
- Esta casa la compramos por mi madre (we bought this house for the sake of my mother);
- Hice lo que hice por María (I did what I did for the sake of Maria);
- No sé por quien voy a votar (I am not sure who I am going to vote for);
7.
Time Periods
In
Spanish “por”
is often used with
undetermined or general time periods. In such cases, “por”
expresses the time period “during”
which an action takes place/ something happens.
For
example:
- Estudio español por las tardes (I study Spanish in/ during the afternoons);
- Por Semana Santa nos gusta ir a España (we like going to Spain at/ during Easter);
- Por enero casi siempre hace mucho frío (in/ during January it is almost always very cold);
8.
Perception
In
Spanish “por”
is often used with verbs such as
“tener”/
“tomar”/
“dar”
and similar verbs, to express what is considered perception, opinion
or reputation.
For
example:
- Mis amigos me tienen por loco (my friends' opinion is that I am crazy);
- ¿Por quien me tomas? (who do you think I am?/ what do you take me for?);
- Te dan por muy buen profesor (you have the reputation of a very good teacher/ in other people's opinion you are a very good teacher);
- Eso lo doy por hecho (for me, that is as good as done);
9.
Communications
In
Spanish “por”
is often used with verbs such as
“hablar”/
“enviar”/
“comunicarse”
and similar, to indicate the means
“by”
which communication takes place.
For
example:
- Hablé con Pedro por teléfono (I spoke to Pedro on the phone/ by means of the phone);
- ¿Me enviste ese documento por correo? (did you put that document in the post for me?/ did you send it to me by means of the posted mail?);
- Nos comunicamos por señas (we communicate by means of sign language);
- La carta nos la enviaron por correo aéreo (they sent us the letter by air mail);
10.
Prices & Other Amounts
In
Spanish “por”
is often used with verbs such as “comprar”/
“cambiar”/
“dar”
and similar verbs to
express amounts in exchanges/ commercial transactions.
For
example:
- Compré un par de zapatos por quince euros (I bought a pair of shoes for 15 euros);
- Cambié la moto vieja por una nueva (I exchanged my old motorbike for a new one);
- ¿Me das tu abrigo por el mío? (will you give me your coat for mine?);
11.
Proxies
In
Spanish “por”
is often used
to express an action by proxy , that is an action “on
behalf of”
someone else.
For
example:
- Esta carta la escribí por mi madre (I wrote this letter on behalf of my mother);
- Será mejor que hable por ti tu abogado (it would be better if your lawyer spoke on your behalf);
12.
Rates/ Frequencies/ Percentages
In
Spanish “por”
is often used to
express all sorts of rates and frequencies.
For
example:
- Íbamos a cien kilómetros por hora (we were travelling at 100 Km/hour);
- Practico español cinco veces por semana (I practice Spanish 5 times per week);
- Esa inversión me deja un siete por ciento annual de beneficios (that investment gives me an annual profit of 7%);
13.
Future
In
Spanish “por”
is often used with verbs such as
“estar”/
“quedar”and
similar verbs, to express actions or events which are expected to
occur in the future or actions which are ongoing but still to be
completed.
For
example:
- Ese tren todavía está por llegar (that train is still to arrive);
- Aun nos quedan plazas por cubrir? (we still have some vacancies to fill);
- Mis deberes aun están por acabar (my homework is still not finished);
14.
Errands
In
Spanish “por”
is often used with verbs such as
“ir”/
“mandar”and
similar verbs, to express the objectives of an errand.
For
example:
- Voy por el periódico (I am going to get the paper);
- Nos mandaron por pan (they sent us to fetch some bread);
- Pasamos por ti a las ocho (we'll come to pick you up at 8:00);
15.
Pointless Action
In
Spanish “por”
is often used in between two appearances of the same verb, with the
verb which follows it in infinitive. This construction is used in
Spanish to express some pointless or futile action. That is something
done just “for
the sake of it”,
with no other intended purpose.
For
example:
- Hablar por hablar (talk for the sake of talking – no other purpose);
- Si me llamas por llamar no llames (if you are calling me just for the sake of it, don't call);
- Creo que me escribes por escribir (I believe you are writing to me just for the sake of it);
16.
In The Mood
In
Spanish “por”
is often used with verbs such as
“estar”
and followed by another verb in infinitive to express a mood or
inclination to do something.
For
example:
- Estoy por tomarme un café (I feel like a coffee/ in the mood to have a coffee);
- Estamos por ir al cine (we feel like going to the cinema);
17.
Gratitude
In
Spanish “por”
is often used after
“gracias”
to express gratitude for something.
For
example:
- Gracias por la ayuda (thank you for your help);
- Gracias por venir a visitarnos (thank you for coming to visit us);
18.
Idiomatic Expressions
“Por”
is used in many idiomatic expressions. A sample of them, with
relevant examples is shown below:
- Por adelantado (in advance);
- Example: Te envío el dinero por adelantado (I am sending you the money in advance);
- Por ahora (for the time being);
- Example: Por ahora no me hace falta nada (I don't need anything for the time being);
- Por allí (around there/ that way);
- Example: Por allí se va a la estación (that is the way to the station);
- Por aquí (around here/ this way);
- Example: Pasen por aquí, por favor (this way, please);
- Por casualidad (by chance);
- Example: nos vimos por casualidad (we saw each other by chance);
- Por cien (percent);
- Example: A mi me correspodió el veinte por cien (20% was my share);
- Por ciento (percent);
- Example: A mi me correspodió el veinte por ciento (20% was my share);
- Por cierto (as a certainty/ by the way);
- Example: Eso lo damos por cierto (we take that as a certainty);
- Exampe: Por cierto, ¿cuándo empieza la película? (by the way, when does the film begin?);
- Por completo (completely);
- Example: Eso lo desconozco por completo (I am completely in the dark about that/ I have no knowledge of it);
- Por dentro (in the inside)
- Example: El barril hay que limpiarlo por dentro (the barrel needs to be cleaned in the inside);
- Por desgracia (unfortunately);
- Example: Por desgracia llegamos tarde (unfortunately we arrived late);
- Por ejemplo (for example);
- Example: Por ejemplo, así es como se hace (for example, you should do it this way);
- Por el amor de Dios (for the love of God);
- Example: Por el amor de Dios, no lo hagas (for the love of God don't do it);
- Por eso (for that reason);
- Example: Hay muchos accidentes en carretera. Por eso no me gusta ir en coche (there are lots of traffic accidents. It is for that reason that I don't like travelling by car);
- Por favor (please);
- Example: Por favor, no molestar (please do not disturb);
- Por fin (at last);
- Example: Por fin hemos llegado (we have arrived at last);
- Por fuera (on the outside);
- Example: La casa hay que limpiarla por fuera (the house needs to be cleaned on the outside);
- Por fuerza (by force/ unavoidably);
- Example: Derribaron la puerta y entraron por fuerza (they knocked down the door and got in by force);
- Example: Por fuerza tuvimos que bajar del tren (we had no option but to get off the train);
- Por las buenas (voluntarily/ avoiding confrontation/ with good will));
- Example: Por las buenas hago cualquier cosa (voluntarily/ avoiding confrontation I could be amenable to do anything);
- Por las malas (by force);
- Example: Por las malas no hay quien consiga nada de él (by force it is impossible to get him to do anything);
- Por lo general (generally);
- Example: Por lo general, los domingos no se trabaja (generally, we don't work on Sundays);
- Por lo menos (at least);
- Example: Por lo menos no tenemos que madrugar (at least we don't have to get up early);
- Por lo tanto (consequently);
- Example: Estamos de vacaciones, por lo tanto no trabajamos (we are on holiday, consequently, we don't work);
- Por lo visto (apparently)
- Example: Por lo visto no han llegado todavía (apparently they haven't arrived yet);
- Por medio de (by means of):
- Example: El río se cruza por medio de una barca (the river is crossed by means of a boat);
- Por mi parte (as for me/ as far as I am concerned);
- Example: Por mi parte, lo dejamos así (as far as I am concerned, we can leave it like so);
- Por ningún lado (nowhere/ anywhere)
- Example: No encuentro a tu hermano por ningún lado (I cannot find your brother anywhere);
- Example: Tu hermano no parece estar por ningún lado (your brother is nowhere to be seen);
- Por ninguna parte (nowhere/ anywhere)
- Example: No encuentro a tu hermano por ninguna parte (I cannot find your brother anywhere);
- Example: Tu hermano no parece estar por ninguna parte (your brother is nowhere to be seen);
- Por otra parte (on the other hand);
- Example: Por otra parte, lo que me dicen no tiene sentido (on the other hand, what they tell me makes no sense);
- Por primera vez (for the first time);
- Example: Visitamos Madrid por primera vez (we visited Madrid for the first time);
- ¿Por qué? (why?);
- Example: ¿Por qué estudias español? (why are you studying Spanish?);
- Por que (so that);
- Example: Haré todo lo posible por que no tengas que salir (I will do all I can so that you don't have to go out);
- Porque (because);
- Example: No lo hago porque no puedo (I am not doing it because I can't);
- Por separado (separately);
- Example: Lavar por separado la ropa de color (wash coloured clothes separately);
- Por si acaso (just in case);
- Example: Voy a llevar el paraguas por si acaso (I am taking the umbrella just in case);
- Por suerte (fortunately);
- Example: Por suerte llegamos a tiempo (fortunately, we arrived on time);
- Por supuesto (of course);
- Example: Por supuesto que lo haré (of course I will do it);
- Por todas partes (everywhere);
- Example: Buscamos a tu hermano por todas partes (we looked for your brother everywhere);
- Por todo lo alto (no expense spared);
- Example: Celebré mi cumpleaños por todo lo alto (I spared no expense to celebrate my birthday);
- Por todos lados (everywhere);
- Example: Buscamos a tu hermano por todos lados (we looked for your brother everywhere);
- Por último (finally);
- Example: Por último nos despedimos (finally, we said goodbye);
Now
you should practice the uses of “por” with some examples
of your own.
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