Causes, duration, and transit (por)

In the previous lesson, we learned para for destinations, recipients, and deadlines. Now let's look at its partner, por. When traveling or commuting, you will use por to talk about your route, how long the trip takes, and the reasons for any delays.

Transit and Movement

Use por to describe movement through, along, or by a place. It focuses on the route rather than the final destination.

The train passes through the dark tunnel.
El tren pasa por el túnel oscuro.
I always run along this route.
Siempre corro por esta ruta.

Cause and Reason

When you want to explain why something happened—especially delays caused by an event or the weather—use por ("because of" or "due to").

The bus does not arrive because of the accident.
El autobús no llega por el accidente.
We have a delay because of the weather.
Tenemos un retraso por el clima.
I cannot drive because of the fog.
No puedo manejar por la niebla.

Duration of Time

Use por to express how long an action or event lasts ("for").

We wait in the tunnel for three minutes.
Esperamos en el túnel por tres minutos.
We are on the highway for two hours.
Estamos en la carretera por dos horas.