PARA or POR? 5

Para + infinitive — in order to — Para + infinitive expresses purpose — "in order to": Estudio para aprender. Como para vivir, no vivo para comer. This is one of the most frequent uses of para in everyday speech. The subject of the infinitive must be the same as the subject of the main verb.

Por + infinitive — reason for an action — Por + infinitive expresses the reason or cause: Le castigaron por mentir (They punished him for lying). Gracias por venir (Thanks for coming). Note that in English "for + -ing" covers both purposes (use para) and reasons (use por).

Estar para vs estar por — Estar para = to be about to do something: Está para llover (It's about to rain). Estar por = to remain to be done, or to be in the mood for: El trabajo está por hacer (The work is yet to be done). Estoy por salir (I feel like going out). These two contrast neatly.