per i per a

Basic Per and Per a

Level 1

Per often marks route or cause; per a marks a recipient or intended use.

How It Works

Passem per Girona gives the route, while ho faig per tu can mean I do it for your sake or because of you. A recipient is clear in aquest paquet és per a tu. Before a noun, per a is a useful shared formal way to express destination or intended use.

Contract masculine articles in the usual way: per + el becomes pel, while per a + el becomes per al. Thus camino pel parc describes my route; un llibre per al curs identifies what the book is intended for.

Usage before infinitives is more complex, and the spoken distinction varies regionally. Do not apply an automatic English for equals per a rule. Begin with these clear noun and pronoun contexts, then learn purpose infinitives as a separate construction.

Examples (3)

  1. Tornem pel camí curt.

    We return by the short path.

  2. Aquest regal és per a tu.

    This gift is for you.

  3. Ho faig per necessitat.

    I do it out of necessity.

How It Connects

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per i per aLevel 1Basic Per and Per a

Learn This First

Recognize pel and pels inside route and cause phrases.

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