Me escribieron desde Barcelona: They wrote me from Barcelona.
Para may be used together with con = "towards"—
Fué muy bueno conmigo, para mí, or para conmigo.
"En acabando[205] lo haré" has the meaning of "I shall do it as soon as I have finished."
[Footnote 205: En is the only preposition which may govern a pres. participle, generally with the meaning given above.]
We add the following idiomatic uses of Por and Para to what we said about these two prepositions in Lesson XXIX:
Por may translate "on behalf of," "for the sake of," "in favour of," "during," "through"—
Habló por el proyecto de ley: He spoke in favour of the bill.
Se presentó por la casa: He appeared on behalf of the firm.
Por la paz y buena armonía concedemos lo que V. pide: For the sake of
peace we allow what you ask.
Les sirvió por cinco años: He served them during five years.
Trabaja por la mañana: He works during (in) the morning.
Vino por París: He came through Paris.
Cotizar por un artículo: To quote for an article.
Yo por mí (or por mi parte) prefiero comprar al contado: I, for one,
prefer to buy for cash.
Por[206] rico que sea, no tendrá suficientes recursos: No matter how
rich he is, he will not have sufficient means.
Es demasiado avaro por ser tan rico: for such a rich man, he is too
miserly.
Caro por caro prefiero géneros ingleses: If I have to pay a dear price,
I prefer English goods.
Por sí ó por no: In any case, should it be so or not.
Ir (venir) por: To go (come) for.
Enviar por el médico: To send for the doctor.
Por holgazán perdió el empleo: He lost his employment through laziness.
Por bién ó por mal: Willy-nilly.
Vendré por la Navidad: I shall come by Christmas.
Por si acaso: In case that.
[Footnote 206: Por has always this meaning before an adjective or adverb.]
No sirve para más: He is good for nothing else.
Venir para la Pentecostés: To come for Whitsuntide.
Esto no es para menos: The thing (or occasion) is worth it.
Para español (or por ser español) es muy alto: He is very tall for a
Spaniard.
Tener grande consideración para este hombre: To have great respect for
this man.
Dar pedidos para ferretería, ollería, y maquinaría: To give orders for
ironware, hollow-ware and machinery.
Es demasiado avaro para ser tan rico: He is too miserly to be so rich.