Most Common Mistakes When Learning Spanish (Part 3): In this article, we will examine the common mistakes that Turks frequently make while learning Spanish and how to avoid them. You will find tips on pronunciation, misleading words, and other challenges. By being aware of these mistakes, you can improve your Spanish more quickly. The two main topics covered in this article are “Prepositions Por vs Para:” and “Grammatical Mistakes ”
5. Prepositions: Por vs Para
A Brief History of “Por” and “Para”
It’s interesting to note that por came first, derived from the Latin pro, meaning “for” or “on behalf of.” Later, paraevolved from combining por and a, adding nuance to Spanish.
Beyond a fun linguistic fact, this origin offers insight into their differences:
Think of para as por + direction towards
This simple idea forms the foundation for understanding the distinct roles of these words.
Visualizing the Differences:
- Por implies movement “through” or “among,” capturing a broad, indefinite sense.
- Para points “toward” a specific goal, suggesting a clear end.
Keeping this in mind will guide you as you explore their uses.
Three Key Uses of “Por” and “Para”
The following framework breaks down por and para in three main dimensions: location, time, and people/things.
1. Location
Here, our visualization helps clarify. Por conveys “through,” “around,” or “across”; para emphasizes the endpoint, translating to “towards” or “to.”
Examples:
| Por | Para |
|---|---|
| Vamos por las calles de la ciudad | Voy para tu casa |
| “We’re going along the streets…” | “I’m heading to your house” |
Por captures movement within an area, while para heads towards a destination.
2. Time
With time, por suggests “through” a period, representing duration, like “for five days.” Para sets a specific goal or deadline.
Examples:
| Por | Para |
|---|---|
| Por la tarde | Lo quiero para la tarde |
| “During the afternoon” | “I need it by this afternoon” |
Por spans time, while para establishes an endpoint.
3. People and Things
This area can be tricky. Think of para as marking a “goal” and por covering everything else. Para often means “for the benefit of,” while por suggests “because of” or “in exchange for.”
Examples:
| Por | Para |
|---|---|
| Lo hice por ti | Lo hice para ti |
| “I did it because of you” | “I did it for you” (your benefit) |
Primary Uses of “Para”
As our image suggests, para usually means moving toward a goal. Its specific uses include:
- Purpose or intention:
- Es para ti: “It’s for you”
- Para hacerlo: “To do it”
- Direction or destination:
- Vamos para la casa: “We’re going home”
- Opinions:
- Para mí, no es buena idea: “For me, it’s not a good idea”
- Deadlines or time phrases:
- Tienes que estar listo para las 4pm: “Be ready by 4 pm”
Para also expresses purpose before verbs, as in para hacerlo bien (“to do it well”) or para llegar (“to arrive”).
Primary Uses of “Por”
Por, denoting movement “through” or “among,” has broader, flexible meanings. It often replaces other prepositions like hacia, entre, or durante, covering a range of expressions:
- Cause or reason:
- Eso pasó por tu culpa: “That happened because of your fault”
- Por eso: “Because of that…”
- Exchange or substitution:
- Te cambio este por otro: “I’ll trade this one for another”
- By (an agent or means):
- 100 años de soledad fue escrito por Gabriel García Márquez: “written by Gabriel García Márquez”
- Por avión: “By plane”
- “Through” and “along”:
- Vamos por la calle: “We’re going along the street”
- Duration or frequency:
- Por la noche: “At night”
- Por 2 horas: “For 2 hours”
Por frequently appears with verbs (e.g., comenzar por, “to start with”)—an option generally unavailable to para.
Common Phrases that Show the Difference Between “Por” and “Para”
For Spanish learners, these examples clarify how por and para can change the meaning of similar phrases:
- Por qué vs para qué
- Por qué means “because of what” or simply “why”
- Para qué means “to do what” or “for what purpose?”
- Por mí vs para mí
- Por mí means “because of me” (contextual)
- Para mí translates to “for me” (benefit)
- Este tren va por Castellón vs Este tren va para Castellón
- Por Castellón: “This train goes via Castellón”
- Para Castellón: “This train’s destination is Castellón”
Understanding these examples will solidify the nuanced but vital distinction between
por and para in Spanish.
6. Grammatical Mistakes
Many English-speakers struggle with Spanish grammar. To help you avoid making too many grammatical errors, we’re going to leave you some of the most common examples. By internalizing them, you’ll greatly boost your Spanish fluency!
Confusing Spanish Verbs: SER vs. ESTAR
If you’ve studied even a little Spanish, you probably know already that there are some aspects of Spanish grammar that are complicated for English-speakers because they don’t exist in English.
One of them is the difference between ser and estar. In many cases, it can be easy to know which one to use. But there are certain situations where distinguishing between them is more difficult.
With time and practice, you’ll see yourself making more and more progress, and better understanding these concepts.
Using ser:
Ser is used to describe permanent or long-lasting characteristics/states of being.
For example:
- El hombre es alto. (“The man is tall.”)
Using estar:
Estar is used to talk about location or temporary characteristics/states of being.
For example:
- Paris está en Francia. (“Paris is in France.”)
More examples:
| Incorrect X | Correct O | English Sentence |
| Ella es dormida. | Ella está dormida. | “She is asleep.” |
| Mi vecino está amable. | Mi vecino es amable. | “My neighbor is kind.” |
| La mujer está delgada. | La mujer es delgada. | “The woman is thin.” |
“To like” vs. Gustar
New learners often make mistakes in Spanish when using the verb gustar.
Often, when translating the verb gustar into English, we give it the meaning “to like.” However, note that there are marked differences between the English “to like” and the Spanish gustar.
Take this sentence for example:
- Me gusta mucho la paella.
“I like paella very much.”
Here, me gusta really means something along the lines of “it gives me pleasure.” In the example sentence, the paella gives the speaker pleasure, making the speaker the object of the sentence.
The mistake that some learners make is to use the Spanish pronoun yo (“I”) and treat themselves as the subject or doer. So they normally say:
Yo me gusto la paella mucho, which is incorrect.
If you want to say that you like the paella, you have to omit the pronoun yo and only say: Me gusta la paella.
Do you think you might be making one of these mistakes?
Would you like to correct these common mistakes and improve your Spanish? Join our Spanish classes at Estudia and start speaking confidently. Our expert instructors will guide you every step of the way to master the language and overcome these challenges. Contact us today and start your journey to perfect Spanish!
