What’s the Difference Between ‘Estar Por’ and ‘Estar Para’?
Estar por + infinitive and estar para + infinitive are both very common in Spanish. These verbal constructions are often confused but in this blog post, I set them apart.
These expressions denote the intention and state of a person or the condition of a thing. Read ahead to find which is which, the negative forms and variants you need. Also, I include examples so you can practice these perífrasis verbales all you want and even a tip at the end!
¡Estás por aprender una nueva lección de español!
You are about to learn a new lesson in Spanish!
Estar Para
Estar para in English is used when someone is ready, qualified, willing, inclined, or about to do something expressed by the verb in infinitive. It also describes the condition of an object or person.
In this case, estar does not indicate a place, nor the existence of someone or something because when it is built with the word para, it suggests purpose.
See the examples of each situation:
Estoy para tener un trabajo internacional.
I am qualified to have an international job.
Estás para descansar toda la semana.
You are inclined to rest all week.
Estoy para que me digas que hacer.
I am willing to do whatever you say.
Another way of using this form is when talking about purposes or missions:
Los bomberos están para apagar incendios.
Firemen are there to put out fires.
Los padres están para criar a sus hijos.
Parents exist to raise their children
Los doctores están para curar enfermos.
Doctors are here to heal the sick.
Negative Form of Estar Para
When it comes to the negative form of the estar para + infinitive perífrasis verbal, not being in the mood, condition, or position of doing something, becomes more evident. Here are some examples:
No estoy para hacer montañismo.
I am not qualified to do mountaineering.
No estamos para trabajar hoy.
We are not inclined to work today.
Él no está para oír tus cuentos.
He’s not willing to hear your stories. / He is not in the mood to hear your stories.
Whenever the infinitive verb is transitive like comerse, the sentence acquires a passive voice like this:
Esta pera está para comerse mañana.
This pear will be ready to be eaten tomorrow.
Esta lechuga no está para comerse, ya se pudrió.
This lettuce is not to be eaten, it has already rotted.
In the case of being about to do something, it sounds more natural the construction estar a punto de, you can choose from either one of the two expressions, but the latter is more common:
Estoy a punto de salir de mi casa.
I am about to exit my house.
No estoy a punto de graduarme, todavía me faltan dos años.
I am not about to graduate, I still have two years to go.
A variant of this construction is estar como para + infinitive:
El pollo está como para comértelo todo.
The chicken is so tasty, you can eat it all.
Estar Por
The estar por meaning is to show a person’s intention of doing something in the immediate future. Estar por in English generally translates to “about to”, “is yet to be”, or “is to be”.
Estoy por decirle la verdad.
I am tempted to tell her the truth.
Estás por cumplir años.
You are about to have your birthday.
¿Están por irse?
Are they about to leave?
Estamos por resolver el misterio.
We are about to solve the mystery.
This inclination sometimes comes as an explanation after a question or asking a favor:
Persona 1: Por favor no le des de comer al gatito.
Persona 2: ¡Qué bueno que me dices! Estaba por darle.
Person 1: Please do not feed the cat.
Person 2: Thank you for telling me! I was about to give it food.
Persona 1: ¿Me puedes llevar a mi casa?
Persona 2: Lo siento, estoy por acostarme
Person 1: Can you give me a ride home?
Person 2: I’m sorry, I’m about to go to bed.
Once again, when transitive verbs are used, and there is no direct object following the verb in infinitive, the sentences get a passive construction.
El misterio está por resolverse.
The mystery is yet to be solved.
El contrato está por revisarse.
The contract is to be reviewed.
El dinero está por acabarse.
The money is about to run out.
La comida está por servirse.
The food is about to get served.
Unlike Latin Americans, Spaniards prefer to say these expressions in a non-reflexive way:
El misterio está por resolver.
The mystery is yet to be solved.
El contrato está por revisar.
The contract is to be reviewed.
El dinero está por acabar.
The money is about to run out.
La comida está por servir.
The food is about to get served.
Estar Por vs Estar Para
Margarita está para casarse.
Margarita is qualified to get married. / Margarita’s purpose is to get married.
Margarita está por casarse.
Margarita is about to get married.
La mesa está para caerse.
La mesa está por caerse.
Ella no está para trabajar hoy.
She is not inclined to work today.
Ella no está por trabajar hoy.
She is not about to work today.
Estoy para dormirme.
I want to sleep. / I am falling asleep.
Estoy por dormirme.
I am about to sleep.
No estoy para trabajar.
I am in no condition to work
Estoy Por Decirte Un Gran Tip!
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Also, you will be able to get a very cool job according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics as one of the top five fastest-growing occupations: interpreter or translator.
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