Grammar worksheet | Por vs. para | KS5 Spanish teaching resource ... - Free Printable

Let’s go through each sentence one by one and decide whether to use por or para. We’ll think about what each word means in context:

- Por is often used for: reasons, causes, exchanges, movement through places, duration, or “on behalf of.”
- Para is often used for: purpose, destination, deadlines, recipients, or opinions.

Now let’s solve each blank carefully.

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1. Esta botella es __________ el vino.
→ The bottle is *for* the wine → para

2. Conduce __________ la autovía que es más rápido.
→ Drive *along/through* the highway → por

3. Los alumnos tuvieron un detalle __________ el profesor.
→ A gesture *for* the teacher (recipient) → para

4. Durante los últimos años he trabajado __________ una agencia de viajes.
→ Worked *for* an agency (employer) → para

5. __________ ser alérgico al polen lleva bien estar en el campo.
→ *Because of* being allergic → reason → por

6. Vamos __________ el concierto en el parque.
→ Going *to* the concert (destination) → al = a + el → but we need preposition → actually, it’s “vamos al concierto” — wait, no blank there? Wait, sentence says: “Vamos __________ el concierto...” → so it’s “vamos al” but since only por/para allowed… Hmm. Actually, “ir a” is standard, but if forced to choose between por/para, maybe they mean “we’re going *for* the concert”? But that doesn’t fit. Let me re-read: “Vamos __________ el concierto en el parque.” Probably meant “vamos al” but since not option, perhaps typo? Or maybe “vamos por el concierto” meaning “we’re going because of the concert”? That feels off. Wait — maybe it’s “vamos para el concierto” as in “heading toward”? In some contexts, “para” can indicate direction. I think para is acceptable here as “headed to”.

Actually, let’s check common usage: “Voy para casa” = I’m heading home. So yes, para works for direction.

→ para

7. __________ quien no entienda de futbol, la copa mundial es absurda.
→ *For* those who don’t understand soccer → opinion/perspective → para

8. __________ aquí se come marisco muy bien.
→ *Around here* / *In this area* → location → por

9. Te llamaré con la confirmación __________ adelantado.
→ *In advance* → fixed phrase: con antelación, but here it’s “adelantado” — probably means “in advance”, so por adelantado? Actually, correct phrase is “por adelantado” = in advance.

→ por

10. Este libro es __________ español.
→ Written *in* Spanish → language → en? Not por/para. Wait — maybe “este libro es para aprender español”? No, sentence says “es __________ español”. Perhaps “este libro es de español”? Again, not options. Maybe it’s “este libro es para español” meaning intended for Spanish class? Possible. Or “escrito en español” — but again, not option. Let’s assume it’s “intended for Spanish learners” → para

Wait — another possibility: “este libro es por español” doesn’t make sense. I think it’s likely a mistake, but given choices, para makes most sense as “for Spanish [class/study]”.

→ para

11. Lo siento __________ llegar tarde a clase.
→ Sorry *for* arriving late → reason → por

12. Si hubiera tenido tiempo, te habría comprado un regalo __________ ti.
→ Gift *for* you → recipient → para

13. Estudio español __________ viajar __________ Sudamérica.
→ Study Spanish *in order to* travel *to* South America → first blank: purpose → para; second blank: destination → a? But only por/para. “Viajar a Sudamérica” — but if must choose, “viajar por Sudamérica” means traveling around/through. But context suggests purpose: study to travel to → so first para, second? If “viajar para Sudamérica” — not standard. Usually “viajar a”. But maybe they want “viajar por” meaning touring? Unlikely. Let’s see: “Estudio español para viajar a Sudamérica” — but since only por/para, perhaps second blank is por as in “traveling through”? Doesn’t fit well. Alternatively, maybe both are para: “study Spanish for the purpose of traveling to SA” — but “viajar para SA” isn’t right. I think second should be a, but since not option, perhaps error. Let’s go with: first para (purpose), second por (if implying traveling around)? Not ideal. Wait — maybe “viajar por Sudamérica” = travel throughout SA — possible. But context is “I study Spanish to travel to SA” — so destination. Hmm. Perhaps the second blank is meant to be a, but since not available, maybe skip? No, must choose. Let’s look at similar exercises — often “viajar a” is expected, but if forced, sometimes “para” is misused. I’ll go with para for first, and for second, since it’s destination, and “para” can sometimes imply direction, I’ll put para again? Not confident. Alternative: “viajar por” = travel by means of? No. Let’s check online or standard answers — actually, in many textbooks, for “travel to”, they use “a”, but if only por/para, perhaps it’s para for purpose and por for route? I think best guess: first para, second por — assuming “traveling through SA”. But let’s note uncertainty.

Actually, rethinking: “Estudio español para viajar a Sudamérica” — but since “a” not option, and sentence has two blanks, perhaps second is por as in “because of SA”? No. Another idea: “viajar por motivos de trabajo” — but not here. I found a better approach: in some contexts, “viajar para” is used colloquially for destination, though non-standard. Given constraints, I’ll put:

→ First blank: para (purpose)
Second blank: a not allowed, so perhaps por is wrong. Wait — maybe it’s “viajar hacia” — no. Let’s leave as para for both? Not good. Perhaps the second blank is por meaning “in exchange for”? No. I think there might be a typo, but for now, I’ll go with:

→ para ; por — assuming “traveling around SA”

But let’s move on and come back.

14. Siento mucha pena __________ su pérdida.
→ Feel sorrow *for* their loss → reason/empathy → por

15. Gracias __________ tu gran trabajo.
→ Thanks *for* your work → reason → por

16. Siempre llamo a mi hermana __________ teléfono __________ ponernos al día.
→ Call *by* phone → medium → por; *in order to* catch up → purpose → para

→ por ; para

17. No pudimos asistir al concierto __________ el precio excesivo.
→ Because of the high price → reason → por

18. No pagaré más de un euro __________ la barra de pan.
→ Pay *for* the bread → exchange → por

19. El trabajo escrito de español está aún __________ terminar.
→ Still *to be* finished → pending action → por (as in “por hacer” = to be done)

→ por

20. La película continuó __________ media hora más.
→ Continued *for* half an hour more → duration → por

21. Cada verano viajamos __________ tren porque es más cómodo.
→ Travel *by* train → means of transport → en? Not option. “Viajar en tren” — but only por/para. Sometimes “viajar por tren” is used incorrectly, but standard is “en”. However, in some regions, “por” is used. Given choices, por might be accepted.

Actually, “viajar en tren” is correct, but if forced, perhaps por is used in some dialects. I think for this exercise, they expect por for means.

→ por

22. Gracias a vosotros __________ haber traído el pastel.
→ Thanks *for* bringing the cake → reason → por

23. El bebé está __________ llorar toda la noche.
→ Baby is *about to* cry? Or “going to cry”? “Estar por + infinitive” means “about to” → por

24. __________ la semana que viene tendré la mesa reservada __________ vosotros.
→ *By* next week → deadline → para; reserved *for* you all → recipient → para

→ para ; para

25. Entreno duro __________ participar en los juegos olímpicos.
→ Train hard *in order to* participate → purpose → para

26. No vayas __________ el parque que está en obras.
→ Don’t go *through* the park → movement through place → por

27. __________ los pelos se me olvida el pasaporte.
→ *Every time* I get nervous? “Por los pelos” is idiom meaning “barely”, but here it’s “__ los pelos se me olvida” — probably “Cada vez que” but not option. “Por los pelos” means narrowly, but doesn’t fit. Perhaps “Con los pelos” — no. Another idiom: “Se me olvida por los nervios” — but here it’s “pelos”. Maybe typo for “nervios”? Assuming it’s “por los nervios” → por

But as written, “por los pelos” could be misinterpreted. I think it’s likely “por los nervios”, so por

28. __________ el que le guste el helado, la mejor heladería está en el paseo marítimo.
→ *For* whoever likes ice cream → opinion/perspective → para

29. En este momento irán de camino __________ el aeropuerto.
→ On the way *to* the airport → destination → al = a+el, but only por/para. “De camino a” — so para for direction? As in “heading to” → para

30. __________ estar sin dinero, sale demasiado.
→ *Because of* being without money → reason → por

31. Si hubiera terminado mi máster, habría trabajado __________ el laboratorio.
→ Would have worked *in* the lab? Or *for* the lab? “Trabajar en el laboratorio” — but only por/para. “Trabajar para el laboratorio” = employed by → para

32. Que yo sepa, el abogado necesitará la documentación __________ tan pronto como sea posible.
→ Need docs *by* as soon as possible → deadline → para

33. La jefa está __________ llegar en cualquier momento.
→ Boss is *about to* arrive → “estar por + inf” → por

34. No cambiaría mi coche __________ nada del mundo.
→ Wouldn’t change my car *for* anything in the world → exchange → por

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Now let’s compile all answers:

1. para
2. por
3. para
4. para
5. por
6. para
7. para
8. por
9. por
10. para
11. por
12. para
13. para ; por *(assuming "viajar por Sudamérica" means traveling through)*
14. por
15. por
16. por ; para
17. por
18. por
19. por
20. por
21. por
22. por
23. por
24. para ; para
25. para
26. por
27. por *(assuming "por los nervios")*
28. para
29. para
30. por
31. para
32. para
33. por
34. por

Wait, for #13, let’s double-check. “Estudio español __________ viajar __________ Sudamérica.”

If it’s “I study Spanish in order to travel to South America”, then first is para (purpose), second should be a, but since not option, and “viajar para Sudamérica” is sometimes used informally for destination, perhaps both para? But that’s redundant. Or “viajar por Sudamérica” = travel around SA — which could be the case if they mean touring. Given that, I’ll stick with para ; por

Also, #10: “Este libro es __________ español.” — if it’s “this book is for Spanish [class]”, then para. If it’s “written in Spanish”, it should be “en”, but since not option, para is best guess.

#27: “__________ los pelos se me olvida el pasaporte.” — if it’s “cada vez que me pongo nervioso”, but written as “pelos”, perhaps it’s “por los pelos” meaning “barely”, but that doesn’t fit “se me olvida”. More likely typo for “nervios”, so por

Final list:

1. para
2. por
3. para
4. para
5. por
6. para
7. para
8. por
9. por
10. para
11. por
12. para
13. para, por
14. por
15. por
16. por, para
17. por
18. por
19. por
20. por
21. por
22. por
23. por
24. para, para
25. para
26. por
27. por
28. para
29. para
30. por
31. para
32. para
33. por
34. por

Now, write them in order as final answer.

Final Answer:
1. para
2. por
3. para
4. para
5. por
6. para
7. para
8. por
9. por
10. para
11. por
12. para
13. para, por
14. por
15. por
16. por, para
17. por
18. por
19. por
20. por
21. por
22. por
23. por
24. para, para
25. para
26. por
27. por
28. para
29. para
30. por
31. para
32. para
33. por
34. por