Messages: 3
Language: English
johnnotegbert (User's profile) February 25, 2014, 5:25:19 AM
There are two prepositions in Esperanto which could be translated as "for" in English--"pro" and "por"?
What are the differences between the two? Specifically, which would you use to say that someone did something for someone else, e.g. "I picked up the book for him [because he was not able]"? Thank you!
What are the differences between the two? Specifically, which would you use to say that someone did something for someone else, e.g. "I picked up the book for him [because he was not able]"? Thank you!
efilzeo (User's profile) February 25, 2014, 7:20:58 AM
They have two very different meanings.
Por = indicates the aim of the action. I did it for you = mi faris tion por vi. I picked up the book for him = mi prenis la libron por li.
Pro = indicates the cause of the action. Because of the rain, I take the umbrella = Pro la pluvo, mi prenas la ombrelon. In this case the rain isn't the aim, but the cause of your aim, so you use "pro".
Por = indicates the aim of the action. I did it for you = mi faris tion por vi. I picked up the book for him = mi prenis la libron por li.
Pro = indicates the cause of the action. Because of the rain, I take the umbrella = Pro la pluvo, mi prenas la ombrelon. In this case the rain isn't the aim, but the cause of your aim, so you use "pro".
johnnotegbert (User's profile) February 25, 2014, 7:35:50 PM
Thank you for the explanation!