Por vs Para in Spanish: Using para (and not por) to say who you work for

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"Para" to say who you work for

We use the preposition para (not por) to say who you work "for", this can be another person or a company. Read and listen to these examples:

Yo trabajo para Gerardo, el abogado de la calle Miño.I work for Gerardo, the lawyer on Miño street.

Mi madre trabaja para El Corte Inglés.My mother works for El Corte Inglés.

Rocío está trabajando para una empresa de seguros.Rocío is working for an insurance company.

It is a very common mistake for English speakers to use the preposition por instead of para in this case.

Bear in mind that one of the most common uses of para is to express that someone or something will receive the "benefits" of an action.

In the examples above the action (the work of the subject, in this case) is of benefit to whoever/whatever comes after para (Gerardo, El Corte Inglés, una empresa de seguros).

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Examples and resources

Mi madre trabaja para El Corte Inglés.My mother works for El Corte Inglés.
Rocío está trabajando para una empresa de seguros.Rocío is working for an insurance company.
Yo trabajo para Gerardo, el abogado de la calle Miño.I work for Gerardo, the lawyer on Miño street.
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