ASK A QUESTION cosas por hacer vs. cosas para hacer
Today in the morning I was listening to RNE and two men were talking about tourism in Spain.
And one of them said:
".... pues yo creo que somos buenos aunque todavía hay muchas cosas por hacer."
Well, honestly I'd say "...muchas cosas para hacer." And I think it's not incorrect either. Or is it? And if they have any difference could you tell me what it is?
After thinking a little bit I found something: like 50 cosas por hacer antes de morir but then I saw that somebody said it with para too. I'm lost! Thanks!
I might be wrong, but in "cosas para hacer" you generally refer to unlimited possibilities, since "para" refers to the future, and no one can predict the future:
En el campo hay muchas cosas para hacer (anything, whatever)
However, in "cosas por hacer", since "por" refers to the path and the reasons that point towards a future, we tend to interpret it as "cosas (que quedan) por hacer" (things that remain to be done), giving those things a present perspective, even if they are future plans. Now we are talking about specifics:
Hay muchas cosas por hacer en esta casa: limpiarla, arreglar el tejado,...
While "50 cosas para hacer" is not wrong and it can be said, it is much more natural to express it as a current list of future events than a predetermined destiny.
Tengo muchas cosas para hacer(algo). I have a lot of things I can do something with.
Tengo mucha harina para hacer pan (for example)
Queda mucho por hacer, hay mucho por hacer...there are still a lot of things do to.
Yo, como lo veo/se:
"Por" hacer significa que: entre/via esas cosas vas a hacer algo, la ruta
"Para" hacer significa que: el resultado de esas cosas es que hagas algo, la finalidad, el resultado
As I see it:
"Por" hacer means that using these things you are going to do/have something, the way/path
"Para" hacer means that the result of these things/actions is what you are going to do, the ending, the result
Hello Fellow Sdict Friends:
Mr, Obama was giving a press conference, and he said in English: Much remains to be done to strengthen the ties between our countries. I then read Mr. Obama's remarks in a Spanish newspaper.
Por + hacer or por hacer was used in place of: 'Much remains to be done"
Apologies for not being able to provide a link to the story.