🎓 Prepared by students from Boğaziçi University

What are Purpose Clauses in French?

Purpose clauses in French express the goal or intention behind an action. They use conjunctions like pour que, afin que, and de façon à followed by the subjunctive mood, allowing you to say "in order that" or "so that" in contexts that show desired outcomes.

Short answer

Purpose clauses express intention using conjunctions (pour que, afin que, de façon à) + subjunctive. They answer 'why?' with the sense of 'in order that' or 'so that' an action happens.

Purpose Clause Structures

pour que / afin que

•Main + pour/afin que + subj.
•Elle étudie pour qu'il comprenne.
•Formal, clear intent

de façon à / de manière à

•Main + de façon à + subj.
•Il parle fort de façon à qu'on l'entende.
•More formal style

Step-by-step worked examples

Elle travaille dur pour que ses enfants réussissent.

Main clause: Elle travaille dur (indicative)
pour que: purpose conjunction
Subordinate: ses enfants réussissent (subjunctive)
Meaning: She works hard in order that her children succeed.

Je vous envoie ce document afin que vous le lisiez avant la réunion.

Main: Je vous envoie ce document
afin que: formal purpose
Subordinate: vous le lisiez (subjunctive)
Meaning: I'm sending you this document so that you read it before the meeting.

Il parle lentement de façon à qu'on le comprenne.

Main: Il parle lentement
de façon à: manner/purpose
Subordinate: on le comprenne (subjunctive)
Meaning: He speaks slowly in such a way that one understands him.

Flashcards

Quick quiz

Q1.Mood after pour que?

Correct answer: B. pour que always requires subjunctive to express intention/desire.

Q2.Complete: Je lui envoie ce email ___ qu'il le voie avant demain.

Correct answer: B. Different subjects (je vs. il) → pour que + subjunctive.

Q3.Which is NOT a purpose conjunction?

Correct answer: C. puisque = 'since' (reason), not purpose.

Q4.Je prépare le dîner pour que nous ___ ensemble. (manger)

Correct answer: B. nous (we) + subjunctive: mangions (1st person plural subjunctive).

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Common mistakes

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Using indicative after pour que: pour qu'il vient. — Correct: Use subjunctive: pour qu'il vienne. Intent is expressed only in subjunctive.

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Mixing pour (prep.) and pour que (conj.): pour qu'apprendre. — Correct: pour + infinitive (same subject). pour que + subjunctive (different subjects).

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Assuming de façon à doesn't need subjunctive: de façon à on comprend. — Correct: de façon à also requires subjunctive: de façon à qu'on comprenne.

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Forgetting the future intent: pour que meant 'reason' rather than 'goal'. — Correct: pour que always expresses a future goal/desire, not a past reason.

FAQ

What is the difference between 'pour' and 'pour que'?

pour + infinitive (same subject): Je viens pour aider. pour que + subjunctive (different subjects): Je viens pour qu'il aide.

Why do purpose clauses use subjunctive?

Subjunctive expresses intent and desire. A purpose clause describes a goal not yet achieved, which is why the subjunctive mood is required.

Is 'de peur que' a purpose clause?

No, it expresses negative purpose ('for fear that…'), but it also uses subjunctive: de peur qu'il ne vienne.

Can I use 'dans le but que' as a purpose conjunction?

dans le but de + infinitive is more common than dans le but que. Both technically work, but 'pour que' or 'afin que' are standard.