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Everything You Need to Know About POR in Spanish

One of the most challenging aspects of learning Spanish is understanding the difference between por and para. Both words can be translated as “for,” but they are used in different contexts. In this blog post, we will focus entirely on por, explaining its various uses, common expressions, grammatical considerations, and examples to help you master it like a native speaker.

Main Uses of POR in Spanish

The preposition por is used in multiple contexts in Spanish. Below is a breakdown of its main uses along with example sentences.

Usage	Explanation	Example Sentence
Cause or Reason	Used to explain the reason behind an action (similar to “because of”).	Me castigaron por llegar tarde. (They punished me for arriving late.)
Duration of Time	Used to express how long something lasts.	Estudié español por tres años. (I studied Spanish for three years.)
Exchange or Substitution	Used when something is exchanged or substituted.	Te doy mi libro por tu cuaderno. (I’ll give you my book for your notebook.)
Means of Communication or Transportation	Used to indicate how something is done.	Hablamos por teléfono. (We spoke on the phone.) / Viajé por tren. (I traveled by train.)
Movement Through a Place	Used when referring to motion through or around a place.	Caminamos por el parque. (We walked through the park.)
General Location	Used to indicate an approximate location.	Vive por aquí. (He/She lives around here.)
Agent in Passive Voice	Used to indicate who performed an action in the passive voice.	El libro fue escrito por Gabriel García Márquez. (The book was written by Gabriel García Márquez.)
Multiplication or Measurement	Used in mathematics or measurements.	Cinco por cinco es veinticinco. (Five times five is twenty-five.)
Motive or Reason for an Action (on behalf of someone)	Used when doing something for someone else.	Lo hice por ti. (I did it for you.)
Gratitude or Apology	Used to express thanks or apologies.	Gracias por tu ayuda. (Thanks for your help.)
Emotion Towards Someone or Something	Used to express feelings.	Tengo mucho respeto por mis profesores. (I have a lot of respect for my teachers.)

Common Expressions with POR

Many fixed expressions in Spanish include por. Here is a list of some of the most common ones, their meanings, and example sentences.

Expression	Meaning	Example Sentence
Por favor	Please	Por favor, dime la verdad. (Please, tell me the truth.)
Por supuesto	Of course	Por supuesto que te ayudaré. (Of course, I will help you.)
Por fin	Finally	Por fin llegaron las vacaciones. (Finally, the holidays arrived.)
Por lo menos	At least	Necesito dormir por lo menos ocho horas. (I need to sleep at least eight hours.)
Por ejemplo	For example	Me gustan los deportes, por ejemplo, el fútbol. (I like sports, for example, soccer.)
Por ahora	For now	No tengo trabajo, por ahora. (I don’t have a job, for now.)
Por si acaso	Just in case	Lleva un paraguas, por si acaso llueve. (Take an umbrella, just in case it rains.)
Por desgracia	Unfortunately	Por desgracia, no puedo ir a la fiesta. (Unfortunately, I can’t go to the party.)
Por todos lados	Everywhere	Hay turistas por todos lados. (There are tourists everywhere.)
Por eso	That’s why	Está lloviendo, por eso llevamos paraguas. (It’s raining, that’s why we’re carrying umbrellas.)
Por mi parte	As for me	Por mi parte, prefiero quedarme en casa. (As for me, I prefer to stay home.)

Things to Keep in Mind When Using POR

1. Gender and Number Agreement

Por itself does not change for gender or number, but the articles and adjectives surrounding it must agree with the noun.
- Example: Caminamos por el bosque. (We walked through the forest.)
- Example: Pasamos por la plaza. (We passed through the square.)

2. When Not to Use POR

Many learners confuse por and para. If you are referring to a destination, purpose, or deadline, use para instead of por.
- Correct: Este regalo es para ti. (This gift is for you.)
- Incorrect: Este regalo es por ti.

3. Using POR in Questions

Por qué = Why? (Used in questions.)
- Example: ¿Por qué estudias español? (Why do you study Spanish?)
Porque = Because (Used in answers.)
- Example: Estudio español porque me gusta. (I study Spanish because I like it.)

Conclusion

Mastering por is essential for fluency in Spanish. It appears in many everyday expressions, grammatical structures, and idiomatic phrases. By understanding its various meanings and practicing its usage, you will be able to speak Spanish more naturally. Keep an eye on key differences between por and para, and remember the most common expressions with por to improve your conversational skills!

If you enjoyed this lesson, be sure to check out more posts like this on my blog at My Language Classes. Don’t forget to subscribe my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram for the latest language learning tips and lessons. Leave a comment below to share your thoughts, or ask any questions you have.

Happy learning! 😊

February 1, 2025

Understanding 〜ように in Japanese | My Language Classes

Using 〜ように in Japanese

The Japanese expression 「〜ように」 is an essential grammatical structure that serves various purposes, including expressing hopes, requests, instructions, comparisons, goals, and habitual actions. This guide will provide an in-depth look at the different uses of 「〜ように」, along with clear explanations and example sentences.

1. Expressing Hopes or Wishes

「〜ように」 is used to express a hope or wish for something to happen, similar to saying “I hope that…” in English.

Structure:

Verb (potential form / negative form) + ように

Examples:

試験に合格できますように。
(Shiken ni goukaku dekimasu you ni.)
→ “I hope I can pass the exam.”
雨が降らないように。
(Ame ga furanai you ni.)
→ “I hope it doesn’t rain.”

2. Expressing Goals or Objectives

This usage is similar to saying “in order to” in English. It indicates a goal or purpose for an action.

Structure:

Verb (potential form / dictionary form) + ように

Examples:

日本語が話せるように、毎日勉強しています。
(Nihongo ga hanaseru you ni, mainichi benkyou shiteimasu.)
→ “I study every day in order to be able to speak Japanese.”
風邪を引かないように、マフラーをします。
(Kaze wo hikanai you ni, mafuraa wo shimasu.)
→ “I wear a scarf so that I don’t catch a cold.”

3. Giving Instructions or Advice (Indirect Commands)

When making polite or indirect requests, suggestions, or advice, 「〜ように」 is often used.

Structure:

Verb (plain non-past form) + ように言う / 注意する / 頼む / 伝える

Examples:

先生は学生に宿題を忘れないように言いました。
(Sensei wa gakusei ni shukudai wo wasurenai you ni iimashita.)
→ “The teacher told the students not to forget their homework.”
医者に早く寝るように注意された。
(Isha ni hayaku neru you ni chuui sareta.)
→ “The doctor advised me to sleep early.”
彼に遅刻しないように頼みました。
(Kare ni chikoku shinai you ni tanomimashita.)
→ “I asked him not to be late.”

4. Making Comparisons

When used with verbs like なる (to become), 「〜ように」 can indicate a comparison or similarity.

Structure:

Noun + のように / Verb (plain form) + ように

Examples:

彼は先生のように話します。
(Kare wa sensei no you ni hanashimasu.)
→ “He speaks like a teacher.”
この部屋はまるでホテルのように綺麗です。
(Kono heya wa marude hoteru no you ni kirei desu.)
→ “This room is as clean as a hotel.”

5. Indicating Habitual Actions or Natural Consequences

This structure shows that something naturally happens or occurs habitually.

Structure:

Verb (dictionary form / negative form) + ようになる

Examples:

毎日練習して、日本語が話せるようになった。
(Mainichi renshuu shite, nihongo ga hanaseru you ni natta.)
→ “After practicing every day, I became able to speak Japanese.”
最近、早く起きるようになりました。
(Saikin, hayaku okiru you ni narimashita.)
→ “Recently, I have started waking up early.”

6. Expressing Something Indirectly

When introducing a previous statement or explanation, 「〜ように」 can mean “as mentioned before” or “as expected.”

Structure:

Verb (plain form) + ように

Examples:

前に話したように、このプロジェクトは重要です。
(Mae ni hanashita you ni, kono purojekuto wa juuyou desu.)
→ “As I mentioned before, this project is important.”
先生が言ったように、復習することが大切です。
(Sensei ga itta you ni, fukushuu suru koto ga taisetsu desu.)
→ “As the teacher said, reviewing is important.”

7. Expressing a Desired Outcome in a Prayer or Wish

This structure is common in prayers and formal expressions.

Structure:

Verb (potential form / negative form) + ように

Examples:

みんなが幸せになりますように。
(Minna ga shiawase ni narimasu you ni.)
→ “I hope everyone becomes happy.”
悪いことが起こらないように。
(Warui koto ga okoranai you ni.)
→ “I hope nothing bad happens.”

Summary: Situations Where 「〜ように」 is Used

Usage	Meaning	Example
Expressing Hopes or Wishes	“I hope that…”	試験に合格できますように。
Expressing Goals	“In order to…”	日本語が話せるように勉強しています。
Giving Instructions / Advice	Indirect commands	先生は学生に宿題を忘れないように言いました。
Making Comparisons	“Like…”	彼は先生のように話します。
Indicating Habitual Actions	“To become able to…”	日本語が話せるようになった。
Introducing Statements	“As mentioned…”	前に話したように、このプロジェクトは重要です。
Expressing Wishes in Prayer	Formal wishes	みんなが幸せになりますように。

Conclusion

「〜ように」 is a versatile and essential grammar structure in Japanese. Understanding its different uses can greatly enhance your ability to communicate hopes, goals, indirect commands, comparisons, and habitual changes. By mastering this structure, you will sound more natural and fluent in Japanese!

Would you like me to cover any other grammar points in detail? Let me know in the comments!

If you enjoyed this lesson, be sure to check out more posts like this on my blog at My Language Classes. Don’t forget to subscribe my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram for the latest language learning tips and lessons. Leave a comment below to share your thoughts, or ask any questions you have about nouns.

Happy learning! 😊