Focused learning guide
Per vs per a in Catalan: cause, route, purpose and recipient
Choose Catalan per and per a by meaning while recognising the legitimate variation between formal standards and spoken varieties.
Broadly, per expresses cause, means, route or duration, while per a can mark destination, recipient, purpose or intended use. Actual usage varies by variety and style guide.
Core contrasts
Ho faig per tu can express motive; Això és per a tu identifies an intended recipient. Passem per Girona describes a route, while Sortim per a Girona can point toward a destination in standards that maintain the contrast.
Purpose before an infinitive
Published standards and speakers differ over per versus per a before infinitives, with meaning and dialect both relevant. Follow the standard required by your institution or publication, but learn to understand both patterns.
Practise meaning before labels
Sort examples by relationship: reason, agent, route, exchange, recipient, destination and purpose. Then compare how trusted Catalan sources from your target region realise each relationship.
Questions learners ask
Frequently asked questions
Is per a used everywhere equally?
No. Frequency and distribution vary significantly by dialect, register and editorial norm.
Is one form always wrong before an infinitive?
No universal shortcut covers all standards and meanings; consult the style norm relevant to your context.
Can Spanish por and para be copied directly?
They offer useful comparisons but do not map perfectly onto Catalan usage.