Ch 42 · Lesson 18Spanish · Chapter 42 · Lesson 18 · Grammar primer
Purpose: para and para que + subjunctive
(the same person: infinitive) against (someone else: subjunctive). Plus the mistakes.
The short version
Cause states a fact, purpose points at a goal
.
Why?Hide
, , , , and all state facts, so they take the indicative. Purpose connectors point at a goal that has not happened yet, so , a and take the subjunctive. Getting that mood wrong is an instant giveaway.
Same person:
.
Why?Hide
When the same person does both actions, use + infinitive: . is for someone else, and it always takes the subjunctive: , never .
Purpose: para and para que
Purpose says what something is for. The question is who does the second action:
| Who does it? | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| the same person | . | I study (in order) to pass. |
| someone else | . | I'm explaining so you get it. |
| someone else | . | I'm ringing so you'll help me. |
. | I repeat it so they remember it. |
The same person: + infinitive. Someone else: + subjunctive, always, because the aim has not happened yet. After a past verb, usually takes the past subjunctive:
.- I explained it so that you would understand it.
and do both jobs, and the mood tells you which. With the indicative they give a result; with the subjunctive, an aim:
, .- He/she wasn't answering, so I left..- Speak slowly so that they understand you.
Mistakes English speakers make
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Me . | , . | causal goes first |
| because of + noun | |
| takes the subjunctive | |
| yo . | . | I study, I pass: infinitive |
| takes the subjunctive | |
| Âż no ? | Âż ? | asking why: , two words |
The last one is spelling: (two words, accent) asks why, (one word) answers it.
Going further: Connectors at a glance and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
Practice
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One question at a time, mixed across the exercises in this lesson. Miss one and it comes back round before the end.
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