Portuguese grammar · Intermediate (B1)
Por and para
When to use por (pelo, pela) and para (pra, pro): purpose and destination, cause and route, exchange, and common fixed phrases.
Contractions and spoken forms
joins the definite article: , , , . doesn't contract in writing, but in speech it is almost always , and it joins the article: , , , . You'll see in text messages and informal writing; in formal writing use .
| + article | Contraction | + article | Spoken |
|---|---|---|---|
| por o | |||
| por a | |||
| por os | |||
| por as |
Para: goals and destinations
looks forward: to a goal, a place, a person or a deadline. With places, Brazilians say (or ) for almost everything; sounds more formal or suggests a short visit.
| Use | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| purpose: in order to | I'm studying to pass the exam. | |
| destination | I'm going to Salvador tomorrow. | |
| recipient | This present is for you. | |
| deadline | I need this by Friday. | |
| opinion | For me, it's great. | |
| comparison | For a beginner, he speaks well. |
Por: causes, routes and exchanges
looks back to a cause, or describes the way through something, an exchange or a rate. It also introduces the person who does the action in the passive: (written by).
| Use | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| reason, thanks | Thanks for the help. | |
| through, along, via | We went through Curitiba. | |
| price, exchange | I bought the bike for a hundred reais. | |
| rate: per | , | 200 reais a night, twice a week |
| means | I'll send it by email. | |
| approximate time | , | at around ten, in the morning |
| duration | I lived there for two years. | |
| agent in the passive | The museum was designed by Niemeyer. |
Por or para?
Sometimes both are possible, with a change of meaning. gives the cause or means “on behalf of”; gives the goal or the recipient.
- Fiz o bolo para você.I made the cake for you. · you will get it
- Fiz isso por você.I did it for you. · for your sake, because of you
- Vou para a praia.I'm going to the beach.
- Vou pela praia.I'll go along the beach.
- Trabalho para uma empresa alemã.I work for a German company.
- Trabalho por prazer.I work for pleasure.
Fixed phrases
Many common phrases use or . Learn them as whole chunks.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| please | |
| for example | |
| that's why, so | |
| for now | |
| by any chance | |
| at least | |
| because of | |
| finally | |
| forever | |
| a lot, really (informal) |