por for Cause, Route and Means
Por answers why?, which way?, how? and for how much?: por iso (for that reason), pasar por Santiago (to go through Santiago), falar por teléfono (to talk on the phone).
How It Works
Cause: Pechado por vacacións (Closed for the holidays). Por iso means for that reason, and por que asks why.
Route: the place you pass through or move around in: Pasamos por Santiago (We went through Santiago), un paseo pola praia (a walk along the beach).
Means: how a message or a thing travels: por teléfono (by phone), por correo (by post), pola radio (on the radio).
Price and exchange: Merquei esta camisa por vinte euros (I bought this shirt for twenty euros). Thanks use por too: Grazas pola axuda (Thanks for the help).
Rough time: pola mañá (in the morning), pola tarde (in the afternoon), pola noite (at night), polo verán (in summer).
For someone's sake: Fágoo por ti (I do it for you, because of you). Compare Este agasallo é para ti (This present is for you), where you receive the present.
Who did it: in a passive sentence por names the doer: un libro escrito por Rosalía de Castro (a book written by Rosalía de Castro). See the passive with ser.
Always contract: por never stands before the article o, a, os or as. It joins the older article form lo, la: polo, pola, polos, polas. For purpose, destination and deadlines, use para instead.
Examples (6)
- Por iso cheguei tarde.
That is why I arrived late.
Word by Word: For that arrived-I late.
por iso gives the cause.
- Pasamos por Santiago camiño de Lugo.
We went through Santiago on the way to Lugo.
Word by Word: Passed-we through Santiago way of Lugo.
A place you pass through.
- Falamos por teléfono todos os días.
We talk on the phone every day.
Word by Word: Talk-we by telephone all the days.
The means of communication.
- Merquei esta camisa por vinte euros.
I bought this shirt for twenty euros.
Word by Word: Bought-I this shirt for twenty euros.
The price paid.
- Grazas polo agasallo!
Thanks for the present!
Word by Word: Thanks for-the present!
por + o = polo.
- Gústame pasear pola praia pola tarde.
I like walking along the beach in the afternoon.
Word by Word: Pleases-me to-walk through-the beach through-the afternoon.
pola marks both the route and a rough time.
Common Mistakes
Writing por before the article instead of the contraction.
Grazas por o café.Grazas polo café.Por and the definite article always merge: polo, pola, polos, polas.
Using para for a thank-you.
Grazas para a axuda.Grazas pola axuda.You thank someone for something with por, which here gives the reason for the thanks.
Using por to name who receives something (intended meaning: This present is for you).
Este agasallo é por ti.Este agasallo é para ti.Por ti means because of you or for your sake. For the person who receives something, use para.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Por can introduce a cause, route or means and contracts with the article.
Related Patterns
- para for Purpose and Destination
Para points to a goal or destination, while por gives a cause or a route.
Level 2 - por que / porqueWhy and Because
Por in questions and answers about reasons.
Level 1 - por iso / así que / polo tantoExpressing Consequences
Connectors built with por to express a result.
Level 3 - ser + ParticipleThe Passive with Ser
Por names the doer in a passive sentence.
Level 4 - por mor deBecause of: Por Mor De
Another way to say because of or for the sake of.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice por for Cause, Route and Means in Bubblegum
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