Para is used to express: use or destination (for), purpose (in order to); point of future time (for, by) and to be about to (estar para + infinitive.)
La carta es para Concha. The letter is for Concha.
Estudia para aprender. He studies in order to learn.
Lo tendré para el martes. I will have it by Tuesday.
Juan está para salir. John is about to leave.
Por is used to express: a place through or along which; expressions of time (in, during, at); exchange, price (for); unit of measure (by, per); way or means (by); because of, on account of, for; to go for, to send for; on behalf of, for the sake of; motive, reason. It is also used after a passive verb to indicate the agent (by) and estar por + infinitive indicates what remains to be done or to be in favor of.
por el pueblo through the town
por la mañana in the morning
Pagó un peso por el libro. He paid a dollar for the book.
Se vendre por libras. It's sold by the pound.
Voy por tren. I'm going by train.
Voy por Alicia. I'm going for Alice.
Voté por Juanita. I voted for Juanita.
Fue escrito por Cervantes. It was written by Cervantes.
La carta está por escribir. The letter is yet to be written.
Estoy por escribirla. I am in favor of writing it.
Pero (but) usually follows an affirmative expression, but may follow a negative statement if the verb of the first clause is repeated, or if another verb follows.
Bebe lecho pero no bebe café. He drinks milk, but he does not drink coffee.
Sino (but) is only used in negative sentences of contrasting statements when the verb of the first clause is understood but not repeated.
No bebe café sino leche. He does not drink coffee, but milk.
Object Pronouns
| Subject |
Direct |
Indirect |
Object of Prepositions |
| yo |
I |
me |
me |
me |
to me |
mí |
me |
| tú |
you |
te |
you |
te |
to you |
ti |
you |
| él |
he/it |
le, lo |
him/it |
le |
to him/it |
él |
him/it |
| ella |
she/it |
la |
her/it |
le |
to her/it |
ella |
her/it |
| Usted |
you |
le, la |
you |
le |
to you |
Usted |
you |
| nosotros (as) |
we |
nos |
us |
nos |
to us |
nosotros (as) |
us |
| vosotros (as) |
you |
os |
you |
os |
to you |
vosotros (as) |
you |
| Ustedes |
you |
les, los, las |
you |
les |
to you |
Ustedes |
you |
| ellos (as) |
they |
los |
them |
les |
to them |
ellos (as) |
them |
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An object pronoun generally precedes the conjugated verb, except if is used in an affirmative command, with an infinitive or gerund. Then it is attached to the verb as one word. Déme Ud. el libro. Give me the book.
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When you have more than one pronoun, the indirect comes before the direct. If both pronouns begin with the letter l, then the first one is changed to se.
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When one or two object pronouns follow and are attached to the verb form, an accent mark must be added to retain the original stress of the word.
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For clearness or emphasis, the prepositional form of a plus an object of a preposition may be used. Nos envió a Ud. He sent us to you.
Asking Questions
Simply raise your voice at the end of the sentence.
Place the predicate in front of the subject of the sentence.
Add no? or verdad? or no es verdad? to the end of the statement. These translate to many phrases in English, such as Isn't it? Aren't you? Don't you? Didn't he? Isn't she? etc.
Spanish - Para vs. Por and Pero vs. Sino, Object Pronouns, Asking Questions
