Por vs Para
I studied all night because of the exam.
Estudié toda la noche por el examen.
Reasoning: Por expresses motive or reason (because of).
It’s important that we study for the exam.
Es importante que nosotros estudiemos para el examen.
Reasoning: Subjunctive used after impersonal expressions.
He always said he wanted to travel, but he never did.
Siempre decía que quería viajar, pero nunca lo hizo.
Reasoning: Imperfect for repeated/habitual speech and desires, preterite for completed inaction.
Despite his efforts, he didn’t manage to convince them.
A pesar de sus esfuerzos, no logró convencerlos.
Unless you prove me otherwise, I won’t change my mind.
A menos que me demuestres lo contrario, no cambiaré de opinión.
Reasoning: Subjunctive required after a menos que.
¿Compraste este regalo para tu madre?
¿Compraste este regalo por tu madre?
Qué significa los dos?
¿Compraste este regalo para tu madre? Did you buy this gift for your mom?
¿Compraste este regalo por tu madre? Did you buy this gift because of your mom?
I don’t think she is coming today.
No pienso que ella venga hoy.
Reasoning: Doubt
I thought you knew, so I didn’t tell you anything.
Pensaba que lo sabías, por eso no te dije nada.
Reasoning: Imperfect to describe mental state; preterite for completed past action.
He left without anyone noticing.
Se fue sin que nadie lo notara.
Even if I had time, I wouldn’t do it.
Aunque tuviera tiempo, no lo haría.
Reasoning: Imperfect subjunctive in hypothetical future.
For a five-year-old, he plays the piano very well.
Question: Para un niño de cinco años, toca el piano muy bien.
Reasoning: Para is used to express a comparison.
Even if you asked me, I wouldn’t give it to you.
Aunque me lo pidieras, no te lo daría.
Reasoning: Subjunctive in hypothetical clause
It was raining at 5 oclock yesterday when I was walking and then tripped and fell.
Ayer llovía a las 5 de la tarde cuando iba andando y tropecé y me caí.
Reasoning: Description (time, weather), action in progress, sudden past.
He always talks about politics at dinner.
Siempre habla acerca de política en la cena.
It’s the best movie I’ve ever seen in my life.
Es la mejor película que haya visto en mi vida.
Reasoning: Superlative triggers subjunctive for unknown or subjective experience.
I will teach this class in your place.
Ensenaré esta clase por ti.
Reasoning: Por is used for substitution.
I wish we had arrived on time.
Ojalá hubiéramos llegado a tiempo.
Reasoning: Past perfect subjunctive expressing regret.
The house was big and had a huge garden, but one day a fire completely destroyed it.
La casa era grande y tenía un jardín enorme, pero un día un incendio la destruyó por completo.
Reasoning: Era, tenía = background description; destruyó = specific completed event.
Who are you going to the movies with?
¿Con quién vas al cine?
Had I known, I would have acted differently.
De haberlo sabido, habría actuado diferente.
Reasoning: Inverted conditional using infinitive phrase (de + haber + participle).
Viajar por Europa.
Viajar para Europa.
¿Cuál es la diferencia?
Viajar por Europa. = Throughout
Viajar para Europa. = Finals Destination (towards)
Cuál es la diferencia:
Busco un chico que tiene un salario alto.
Busco un chico que tenga un salario alto.
Busco un chico que tiene un salario alto = I know they exist! I'm looking for a specific person.
Busco un chico que tenga un salario alto. = I'm not sure if they exist. Vague, hypothetical.
It wasn’t true that they had the results.
No era cierto que ellos tuvieran los resultados.
Reasoning: Description, sudden event
He didn’t do it for lack of time, but for fear of making a mistake.
No lo hizo por falta de tiempo, sino por miedo a equivocarse.
Reasoning: Prepositional phrases expressing cause or reason.
If you had said it earlier, I would have helped you.
Si lo hubieras dicho antes, te habría ayudado.
Reasoning: Third conditional with past perfect subjunctive and conditional perfect.