Common Spanish Mistakes with “Para entonces” and “Por entonces”

Introduction

One of the most common sources of confusion for English-speaking Spanish learners is understanding the subtle differences between temporal expressions, particularly when dealing with phrases like para entonces and por entonces. These two expressions may look similar at first glance, but they carry distinctly different meanings and serve different grammatical purposes in Spanish. Learning to distinguish between them is crucial for achieving fluency and expressing yourself accurately when discussing time-related situations. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the differences between these expressions, examine real-world examples, and help you avoid the mistakes that many learners make when using them in conversation or writing.

Understanding the Basics: What Do These Expressions Mean?

Before we dive into the specific differences, it helps to understand what each expression literally translates to and their fundamental meanings. The key to understanding both para entonces and por entonces lies in recognizing that the prepositions para and por create entirely different temporal meanings.

Para entonces is a temporal phrase that means by then or by that time. It is used when you are referring to a deadline or a specific moment by which something should be completed or will have happened. The focus is on reaching a particular point in time. When you use para entonces, you are indicating that an action will be finished or completed before or at a specific moment in the future.

Por entonces, on the other hand, means around that time, at that time, or about then. It is used to indicate an approximate or general timeframe when something occurred or will occur. The focus is on the approximate moment rather than a deadline or completion point.

The Preposition Para: Understanding Deadline and Completion

The preposition para in Spanish has multiple uses, but when it comes to temporal expressions, it primarily indicates a deadline, goal, or point by which something should be accomplished. When you say para entonces, you are suggesting that something will be completed by or before a certain time.

Consider this example: Tengo que terminar el proyecto para entonces. This sentence means I have to finish the project by then. The implication is that there is a deadline, and the project must be completed before or at that specific moment. The speaker is expressing an obligation or expectation that the work will be done by that time.

Another useful example is: Espero que hayas llegado para entonces, which translates to I hope you will have arrived by then. Here, the speaker is expressing hope that an arrival will occur before a specific point in time. The emphasis is on the completion of the action before the deadline.

The key characteristic of para entonces is its forward-looking nature and its association with completion or achievement. It creates a sense of temporal boundary or limit that should not be exceeded.

The Preposition Por: Understanding Approximate Time

The preposition por functions quite differently when used in temporal expressions. While para suggests a specific deadline, por suggests approximation and generality. When you say por entonces, you are indicating that something happened or will happen around a certain time, without specifying an exact moment or deadline.

For example: Por entonces, estudiaba en la universidad. This translates to Around that time, I was studying at the university. The speaker is not indicating when the studying should be completed, but rather when it was taking place as a general matter. The timeframe is vague and approximate.

Another helpful example is: Por entonces, mis padres decidieron mudarse a la capital, which means Around that time, my parents decided to move to the capital. The speaker is indicating that the move happened at an approximate period, without specifying an exact deadline or precise moment.

The fundamental difference is that por entonces looks back or sideways at time, referencing an approximate period, while para entonces looks forward to a deadline or point of completion.

Common Mistakes English Speakers Make

English-speaking learners often struggle with these expressions because English does not make such a clear distinction between deadline-oriented and approximate temporal references. Let us examine some of the most common mistakes.

Mistake One: Using Para Entonces for Approximate Time

One frequent error is using para entonces when the speaker actually means an approximate time reference. For instance, a learner might say: Para entonces, vivía en Barcelona, intending to mean Around that time, I lived in Barcelona. However, this is incorrect. The correct version should be Por entonces, vivía en Barcelona. The incorrect version suggests that the speaker should have finished living in Barcelona by a certain deadline, which is nonsensical. Using para entonces here creates confusion about the intended meaning.

Mistake Two: Using Por Entonces for Deadlines

Conversely, some learners use por entonces when they should use para entonces to express a deadline. For example, saying Tengo que entregar el informe por entonces to mean I have to submit the report by then is technically possible but awkward. The correct and more natural expression is Tengo que entregar el informe para entonces. Using por entonces weakens the sense of obligation and deadline.

Mistake Three: Confusing Tense Usage with These Expressions

Another common error involves using the wrong verb tense with these expressions. When using para entonces, you typically use the future perfect tense or the conditional perfect to indicate that something will be completed by a certain time. For instance: Para entonces, habré terminado mi trabajo means By then, I will have finished my work. Using a simple future or present tense can create ambiguity about whether you are truly talking about completion by a deadline.

Practical Examples and Usage

Let us look at more detailed examples to solidify your understanding of when to use each expression correctly.

Using Para Entonces in Various Contexts

In professional settings, you might say: Necesitamos tener todo preparado para entonces, which means We need to have everything prepared by then. This clearly indicates a deadline that must be met. The completion of the preparation is essential before the specified time arrives.

In educational contexts: Los estudiantes deben haber leído el capítulo para entonces translates to The students should have read the chapter by then. Again, this establishes a clear deadline for completion of the reading assignment.

In personal planning: Espero haber ahorrado suficiente dinero para entonces means I hope to have saved enough money by then. The speaker is expressing a goal or deadline by which they hope to accumulate savings.

Using Por Entonces in Various Contexts

In storytelling: Por entonces, conocí a mi mejor amigo means Around that time, I met my best friend. The speaker is not imposing a deadline but rather indicating when this meeting occurred in relation to other events.

In historical or biographical contexts: Por entonces, la economía del país estaba en crisis translates to At that time, the country’s economy was in crisis. The speaker is setting a temporal backdrop for other events without suggesting any deadline or completion point.

In conversational reminiscing: Por entonces, todos éramos más jóvenes means Back then, we were all younger. This is a casual way of referencing an approximate period in the past without any deadline implications.

Verb Tenses and Their Relationship to These Expressions

Understanding which verb tenses pair naturally with each expression is crucial for accurate usage. When using para entonces, Spanish speakers typically employ the future perfect tense or conditional perfect tense. This is because you are talking about an action that will be completed by a certain time in the future.

Example: Para cuando llegues, ya habré cocinado la cena means By the time you arrive, I will have already cooked dinner. The future perfect tense habré cocinado indicates that the cooking will be complete before your arrival.

With por entonces, you use various past tenses like the imperfect or simple past, depending on what you are describing. The tense choice depends on whether you are describing a continuous state or a completed action that occurred around that time.

Example: Por entonces, trabajaba como ingeniero uses the imperfect to show continuous past action, meaning Around that time, I worked as an engineer. Alternatively, Por entonces, decidí cambiar de carrera uses the preterite, meaning Around that time, I decided to change careers.

Regional Variations and Register

While both expressions are used throughout the Spanish-speaking world, there may be slight variations in how frequently they appear in different regions. Generally, para entonces is more common in formal and professional contexts where deadlines and precise temporal boundaries are important. Por entonces is more common in informal, conversational Spanish, particularly when telling stories or reminiscing.

In Latin America, you might encounter both expressions with similar frequency, though the overall usage patterns remain consistent with the rules we have outlined. In Spain, both expressions are equally present in standard Spanish, though formal written Spanish may show a preference for para entonces in official documents and contracts.

Practice Tips to Master These Expressions

To internalize the difference between para entonces and por entonces, practice creating sentences where you consciously choose one or the other. Start by thinking about whether you are talking about a deadline or completion point (use para entonces) or an approximate time reference (use por entonces).

Another helpful technique is to translate sentences from English to Spanish, paying special attention to whether the English sentence includes words like by (suggesting para entonces) or around or at that time (suggesting por entonces).

Engage with authentic Spanish media such as podcasts, news articles, and literature. Notice how native speakers use these expressions in context. This exposure will help your brain develop an intuitive understanding of when each expression is appropriate.

Conclusion

Mastering the distinction between para entonces and por entonces is an important step in achieving Spanish fluency. While these expressions may seem similar, they serve fundamentally different grammatical and communicative purposes. Para entonces refers to deadlines and completion points, carrying with it a sense of obligation or expectation. Por entonces, by contrast, refers to approximate or general timeframes, useful for storytelling and casual reference to past or future periods. By understanding the prepositions para and por and their relationship to time, you can avoid common mistakes and express yourself with greater clarity and precision in Spanish. Continue practicing these expressions in various contexts, pay attention to native speakers, and soon you will use them naturally without hesitation.