Modern Spanish Grammar: A Practical Guide

PREPOSITIONS 25.125.1.21HastaHasta corresponds to English ‘until’ (time) and ‘up to’ (place).Voy a trabajar hasta medianoche.I’m going to work until midnight.Usted sigue todo recto hasta la segunda calle a la izquierda.You carry straight on as far as the second street on the left.Desde . . . hasta . . . (see 25.1.7.2) is an equivalent of ‘from . . . to . . .’:Estuve esperando desde mayo hasta setiembre.I was waiting from May to September.Hasta is also used in a number of set ways of saying ‘goodbye’ in Spanish (see 29.5).¡Hasta mañana!Until tomorrow!25.1.22ParaPara and por both correspond to English ‘for’ in some of their usages, and thereforediscriminating between them is difficult for English speakers.NOTEThink of por as looking backwards to a cause or motive, or a substitution (though it hasa number of other meanings too); think of para as looking forward to a destination orpurpose:porpara25.1.22.1Para denoting purpose¿Para qué me llamaste?What did you call me for?¿Estará listo para mañana?Will it be ready for tomorrow?Está estudiando mucho para aprobar en francés.He/she’s studying hard in order to pass in French. 25.1.22.243.4 (p. 257)Para denoting destinationHe comprado estas flores para mi tía. (see 43.5)I’ve bought these flowers for my aunt.¿Hay sitio para dos personas?Is there room for two people?Voy para Sevilla.I’m going to Seville126