Por vs. Para Quiz

Do you know the difference between the Spanish prepositions por and para? Although both can be translated as "for" in certain instances, these two oft-confused words have different uses in Spanish and a wide variety of translations in different contexts. In the most general terms, por is used to indicate a cause or reason while para indicates a goal or purpose. If you need to learn or review the uses of por and para in greater detail, we recommend that you peruse Yabla's lesson entitled Por vs. Para: How to Use These Spanish Prepositions. Then, when you're ready, test your knowledge with this quiz!

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Por vs. Para: Fill in the Blank

In the following sentences, choose the preposition por or para that correctly completes each sentence.

1. Las tijeras son ____ cortar.

a. por

b. para

2. Vamos a viajar _____ Europa este verano.

a. por

b. para

3. Yo voy al gimnasio cuatro veces _____ semana.

a. por

b. para

4. Noel tiene que entregar su trabajo ______ el lunes.

a. por

b. para

5. Lo hice ____ amor.

a. por

b. para

6. Ellos prepararon una cena espectacular _______ mi familia.

a. por

b. para

7. ____ mí, Daniel es el mejor restaurante de Nueva York.

a. por

b. para

8. A Guillermo le encanta caminar _____ la ribera.

a. por

b. para

9. Mi mamá vino ____ visitarme.

a. por

b. para

10. Nosotros solemos estar de muy mal humor _____ la mañana.

a. por

b. para

11. Juan esperó _____ cuatro horas en una fila para comprar las entradas.

a. por

b. para

12. Orlando compró un auto nuevo ____ mucho dinero.

a. por

b. para

13. Carla trabaja ______ una empresa muy famosa.

a. por

b. para

14. Hay que subir ____ las escaleras para llegar al segundo piso.

a. por

b. para

15. El edificio fue construido ____ un arquitecto muy reconocido.

a. por

b. para

16. Los estudiantes van ____ la escuela.

a. por

b. para

17. _____ lo que veo, ella está enferma y no va a poder venir.

a. por

b. para

BONUS ROUND

Choose the correct combination of the prepositions por and para to make the sentences grammatically correct.

18. Liliana está estudiando cinco horas * día su examen.*

a. por, para

b. para, por

c. para, para

d. por, por

19. El libro que compré mi mamá fue escrito su autor favorito.

a. por, para

b. para, por

c. para, para

d. por, por

20. * la noche, me gusta caminar mi barrio relajarme*.

a. Por, por, por

b. Para, para, para

c. Por, para, para

d. Por, por, para

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Por vs. Para Quiz: The Answers

The following are the answers to all of the questions in this Por vs. Para Quiz as well as the translations and grammatical reasons for each.

1. Correct Answer: b. para

Las tijeras son para cortar.

The scissors are for cutting.

REASON: The Spanish preposition para is used to talk about the use of something.

2. Correct Answer: a. por

Vamos a viajar por Europa este verano.

We're going to travel in Europe this summer.

REASON: Use por when talking about approximate location.

3. Correct Answer: a. por

Yo voy al gimnasio cuatro veces por semana.

I go to the gym three times a week.

REASON: When referring to the frequency of an action, choose the preposition por. Note the alternative translation in the following example from the Yabla Spanish video library:

Serían trescientos euros por mes

It would be three hundred euros per month

Caption 55, Karla e Isabel Alquilar una habitación - Part 2
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4. Correct Answer: b. para

Noel tiene que entregar su trabajo para el lunes.

Noel has to turn in her project on Monday.

REASON: When talking about a future point in time or deadline, pick para.

5. Correct Answer: a. por

Lo hice por amor.

I did it for love.

REASON: The Spanish preposition por can be used to talk about the reason for something.

6. Correct Answer: b. para

Ellos prepararon una cena espectacular para mi familia.

They made an amazing dinner for my family.

REASON: When naming a recipient, go with para, as in the following clip:

Este libro es para ti.

This book is for you.

Caption 47, Carlos y Cyndy Uso del Voseo en Argentina
Play Caption

7. Correct Answer: b. para

Para mí, Daniel es el mejor restaurante de Nueva York.

To me, Daniel is the best restaurant in New York.

REASON: Para in Spanish can be employed to express a personal opinion.

8. Correct Answer: a. por

A Guillermo le encanta caminar por la ribera.

Guillermo loves to walk along the riverbank.

REASON: The Spanish preposition por can be placed prior to place names to denote a course of movement within that location.

9. Correct Answer: b. para

Mi mamá vino para visitarme.

My mom came to visit me.

REASON: When talking about the purpose for something, opt for the preposition para.

10. Correct Answer: a. por

Nosotros solemos estar de muy mal humor por la mañana.

We tend to be in a very bad mood in the morning.

REASON: When referencing the time of day, use por.

11. Correct Answer: a. por

Juan esperó por cuatro horas en una fila para comprar las entradas.

Juan waited for in a line for four hours to buy the tickets.

REASON: The Spanish preposition por is correctly used in this sentence to describe duration, like in this similar example:

Por muchos años estuvo abandonado,

For many years, it was abandoned,

Caption 66, Amaya Teatro romano
Play Caption

12. Correct answer: a. por

Orlando compró un auto nuevo por mucho dinero.

Orlando bought a new car for a lot of money.

REASON: Por should be used to speak about financial transactions.

13. Correct answer: b. para

Carla trabaja para una empresa muy famosa.

Carla works for a very famous company.

REASON: Para is the correct Spanish preposition for referring to employment.

14. Correct answer: a. por

Hay que subir por las escaleras para llegar al segundo piso

You have to go up [using/with] the stairs to get to the second floor.

REASON: Utilize por to describe the means used to do something.

15. Correct answer: a. por

El edificio fue construido por un arquitecto muy reconocido.

The building was built by a very famous architect.

REASON: In passive sentences in Spanish, the preposition por can be employed to designate who or what performed an action.

16. Correct answer: b. para

Los estudiantes van para la escuela.

The students are going to the school.

REASON: Para in Spanish can refer to the direction of or destination for some movement, as we see twice here:

Andrea, yo me voy para donde Amalia y usted salga para el hotel.

Andrea, I'll go to Amalia's and you go to the hotel.

Caption 42, Confidencial: El rey de la estafa Capítulo 2 - Part 9
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17. Correct answer: a. por

Por lo que veo, ella está enferma y no va a poder venir.

From what I can see, she's sick and isn't going to be able to come.

REASON: Por is the correct Spanish preposition for providing evidence that is used to form a conclusion.

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BONUS ROUND

18. Correct answer: a. por, para

Liliana está estudiando por cinco horas cada día para su examen.

Liliana is studying for five hours a day for her test.

REASON: Despite the fact that both por and para are translated into English as "for" in this sentence, it is necessary to choose por in Spanish to denote duration and para to state an objective.

19. Correct answer: b. para, por

El libro que compré para mi mamá fue escrito por su autor favorito.

The book that I bought for my mom was written by her favorite author.

REASON: Here, the word para refers to a recipient while por points to the agent of an action in a passive sentence.

20. Correct answer: d. por, por, para

Por la tarde, me gusta caminar por mi barrio para relajarme.

In the evening, I like to walk around my neighborhood in order to relax.

REASON: In this sentence, por refers to the time of day as well as a general location, and para states a purpose.

That's all for this quiz on the Spanish prepositions por vs. para. We hope you did well! For more on this topic, be sure to check out Yabla's three-part video series, Las preposiciones 'por' y 'para' , and don't forget to write us with your questions and comments.