Spanish question?

Question

in spanish, when is it appropriate to use "por" vs. "para" and vice versa?

Answer 1

para = for
por = by

para usually is used to describe the purpose
por to describe the cause

Answer 2

both of them mean for the difference is that you use para when it relates to a person in some way like their health you say para la salud
and to use por its use like for the other stuff like time etc... por que? for what? por ejemplo for example etc...
at least thats what my dad taught me

Answer 3

"Por" is for when making a reference to a place,
a material thing or another person--whereas "para"
is only for when making a reference to yourself.
Two examples:
"Ese es por un persona quien vivir en el apartmento
en San Miguel de Allende."
("This is for a person who lives in the apartment in San
Miguel de Allende.")
"El libro es para mi, gracias muy mucho."
("The book is for me, thanks very much.")

Some additional points of mention about espanol: el
lingua ( the language) doesn't acknowledge the letter
"w"; the letter "j" is pronounced the same way as "h";
the letter "h" is silent; and the letter "v" is pronounced
the same way as "b."
When two "l"s appear together in a word, such as...
llamada--the word for "call"--then the pronunciation is
the same as if the word has the letter "y" in it:
"yamada."

Answer 4

para-for:esta carta fue escrita para ti=this letter was written for you
por-by:esta carta fue escrita por ti=this letter was written by you
although there are instances when by is translated as para like: by what time will it be ready? para cuando estara listo?

Answer 5

I believe "por" is personal as in Por vabor, Please

and "para" refers to objects I may be wrong as I studied espanol years ago in high school. good luck

Answer 6

yikes, I lived in south america for 2 years and I still struggle with that one. Even native speakers often dont get it right. I found this weblink after a quick google. There is no easy way to expain it completly. It takes practice
http://www.studyspanish.com/lessons/porpara.htm