to…, for… and so that…
Expressing purpose — to reserve · for petrol · for washing · so that she could — Complete Guide
to…, for… et so that…
Exprimer le but — to reserve · for petrol · for washing · so that she could — Guide Complet
Master three ways to express purpose in English: to + infinitive (why someone does something), for + noun / for + -ing (what something is used for), and so that + can/could/will/would (especially when subjects differ).
Maîtrisez trois façons d'exprimer le but en anglais : to + infinitif (pourquoi on fait quelque chose), for + nom / for + -ing (à quoi quelque chose sert), et so that + can/could/will/would (surtout quand les sujets diffèrent).
English has several ways to express purpose (the reason something is done or exists): to + infinitive, for + noun, for + -ing, and so that. Each has a specific use. The most common learner errors are using for + -ing when to + infinitive is needed, and not knowing when so that is required instead of to.
L'anglais dispose de plusieurs moyens d'exprimer le but (la raison pour laquelle on fait ou on possède quelque chose) : to + infinitif, for + nom, for + -ing et so that. Chacun a un usage précis. Les erreurs les plus fréquentes sont d'utiliser for + -ing là où il faut to + infinitif, et de ne pas savoir quand so that est nécessaire à la place de to.
to + infinitive — expressing purpose (why someone does something)
to + infinitif — exprimer le but (pourquoi on fait quelque chose)
We use to + infinitive to express the purpose of an action — why somebody does something, has something, or why something exists.
On utilise to + infinitif pour exprimer le but d'une action — pourquoi on fait quelque chose, possède quelque chose, ou pourquoi quelque chose existe.
- I called the restaurant to reserve a table. (= pour réserver une table)
- What do you need to make bread?
- We shouted to warn everybody of the danger.
- This letter is to confirm the decisions we made at our meeting.
- The president has a team of bodyguards to protect him.
a place to park · something to eat · money/time/chance to do
a place to park · something to eat · money/time/chance to do
We also use to + infinitive after nouns like place, something, anything, money, time, chance, opportunity, energy, courage.
On utilise aussi to + infinitif après des noms comme place, something, anything, money, time, chance, opportunity, energy, courage.
- It's hard to find a place to park in the city centre. (= un endroit où se garer)
- Would you like something to eat? (= quelque chose à manger)
- Do you have much work to do? (= du travail à faire)
- They gave us money to buy food.
- Do you have much opportunity to practise your English?
- I need a few days to think about your proposal.
- Is there a chair to sit on? (= a chair that I can sit on)
- Is there a chair to sit on? (= une chaise sur laquelle je peux m'asseoir)
- I get lonely if there's nobody to talk to.
- I need something to open this bottle with.
for + noun vs to + verb · for + -ing (what something is used for) · What… for?
for + nom vs to + verbe · for + -ing (à quoi ça sert) · What… for?
Compare for + noun and to + verb. They can express the same idea in different ways:
Comparez for + nom et to + verbe. Ils peuvent exprimer la même idée de deux façons :
for + noun
for + nom
to + verb
to + verbe
We use for + -ing to say what something is used for. But we do NOT use for + -ing to say why somebody does something.
On utilise for + -ing pour dire à quoi quelque chose sert. Mais on n'utilise PAS for + -ing pour dire pourquoi quelqu'un fait quelque chose.
to + infinitive = WHY someone does something · ✓ I went to the kitchen to wash the dishes.
so that + can/could / will/would
so that + can/could / will/would
We use so that (not to…) especially when the two clauses have different subjects, or with modal verbs can/could and will/would.
On utilise so that (et non to…) surtout lorsque les deux propositions ont des sujets différents, ou avec les modaux can/could et will/would.
- She's learning English so that she can study in Canada. (= pour pouvoir étudier au Canada)
- We moved to London so that we could see our friends more often.
- I hurried so that I wouldn't be late. (= pour ne pas être en retard)
- I slowed down so that the car behind could overtake. (different subjects: I / the car)
- I rushed to catch the train. (same subject) = I rushed so that I could catch the train.
- I rushed to catch the train. (même sujet) = I rushed so that I could catch the train.
- She whispered so that the baby wouldn't wake up. (different subjects — only so that works here)
- She whispered so that the baby wouldn't wake up. (sujets différents — seul so that est possible ici)
Complete each sentence with a to + infinitive purpose clause.
Complétez chaque phrase avec une proposition de but à to + infinitif.
Match the action on the left with the purpose on the right.
Associez l'action de gauche au but de droite.
Purposes (use each once): to warn people of the danger · to see what was in it · to be nearer my friends · to chop the onions · to report the accident · to find out if they had rooms · to help me with my work
Buts (utilisez chacun une fois) : to warn people of the danger · to see what was in it · to be nearer my friends · to chop the onions · to report the accident · to find out if they had rooms · to help me with my work
Complete using to + a suitable verb.
Complétez avec to + un verbe approprié.
Put in to or for.
Mettez to ou for.
Make one sentence from two, using so that.
Formez une seule phrase à partir de deux, en utilisant so that.
Frequently Asked Questions — to…, for… and so that…
Questions fréquentes — to…, for… et so that…
Use to + infinitive to say WHY someone does something: ✓ I went to the shop to buy milk. Use for + noun when a noun follows: ✓ I stopped for petrol. Use for + -ing only to say what something IS USED FOR (not why a person acts): ✓ This brush is for cleaning shoes. ✗ I went there for buying milk.
Utilisez to + infinitif pour dire POURQUOI quelqu'un fait quelque chose. Utilisez for + nom quand un nom suit. Utilisez for + -ing seulement pour dire à quoi quelque chose SERT.
Use so that when the two clauses have different subjects: ✓ I slowed down so that the car behind could overtake. Also use so that with can/could/will/would, especially with negatives: I hurried so that I wouldn't be late.
Utilisez so that quand les deux propositions ont des sujets différents. Utilisez aussi so that avec can/could/will/would, surtout au négatif.
No. For + -ing is only used to say what something IS USED FOR (e.g. a tool, a machine, a room). It cannot explain why a person does something. ✗ I went there for buying milk. → ✓ I went there to buy milk.
Non. For + -ing sert uniquement à dire à quoi quelque chose SERT. On ne peut pas l'utiliser pour expliquer pourquoi une personne fait quelque chose.
What did you do that for? = Why did you do that? The word for goes at the end of the question. Similarly: What is this switch for? = what is it used for?
What did you do that for? = Pourquoi tu as fait ça ? Le mot for se place à la fin de la question.
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