Using por for due to / because of / for in Spanish (subordinate causal clauses)

The preposition "por" is used as a causal conjunction to express due to / because of / for. You can say something happens because of something, because of doing something or for having done something.

Learn how to use causal clauses with por in Spanish 

Nos enfadamos por una tontería.We got angry at each other over (because of) a trifle.

(because of something)

 

Me riñeron por llegar tarde.I was told off for being late.

(for/because of doing something)

 

Nos felicitaron por haber aprobado todo con una nota alta.They congratulated us for having passed everything with a good mark.

(for having done something)

All the examples above are expressing the "cause" of what happens in the main clause.

The last two examples are showing a subordinate clause introduced by por. Note that after "por" Infinitivo or El Infinitivo Compuesto are used. We cannot use a conjugated verb after por.

This would be incorrect:

Me riñeron por llegamos tarde.

Nos felicitaron por habíamos aprobado todo con una nota alta.

To use a conjugated verb you need porque:

Me riñeron porque llegamos tarde.

Nos felicitaron porque habíamos aprobado todo con una nota alta.

See also Using porque, como and es que to express cause (subordinate causal clauses) and Using Spanish conjunction al + infinitive/perfect infinitive = when doing/ because of doing [something]

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Examples and resources

Me riñeron por llegar tarde.I was told off for being late.
Nos felicitaron por haber aprobado todo con una nota alta.They congratulated us for having passed everything with a good mark.
Nos enfadamos por una tontería.We got angry at each other over (because of) a trifle.
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