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- parar
para
for
A preposition expressing purpose or goal
Encoding Strategies:
repetition
Para is usually translated as for and is used to express a purpose or goal. It points at something and says "this is what it's for."
para
for, to (purpose)
Pointing toward a goal or reason.
- Tengo dinero para comida = I have money for food
- Estudio para aprender = I study to learn
for (recipient)
When you do something for someone, that person is the purpose.
- Este regalo es para ti = This gift is for you
- Compré flores para mi mamá = I bought flowers for my mom
for, to (destination)
Your destination is the goal of your journey.
- Salimos mañana para Madrid = We leave for Madrid tomorrow
- Ella viaja para España la próxima semana = She's traveling to Spain next week
by, for (point in time)
When you need something done by a certain point in time, that point in time is the goal you're working toward.
- Necesito el informe para el lunes = I need the report by Monday
- Para fin de mes habremos terminado = By the end of the month we will have finished
for, in one's opinion (relative to)
When someone is the goal or purpose, we're evaluating things with respect to them (possibly from their own perspective).
- Eso es mucho dinero para un estudiante = That's a lot of money for a student
- Para mí, es demasiado picante = In my opinion, it's too spicy (for me, it's too spicy)
para que
so that, in order that
When the goal is for someone else to do something, para que links the main action to that goal.
- Te lo explico para que lo entiendas = I'm explaining it to you so that you understand it
- Habla más despacio para que te escuchen = Speak more slowly so that they can hear you