Modern Spanish Grammar: A Practical Guide

Expressing purpose 43.543.5.2Para + infinitivePara will be followed by the infinitive when the subject of the main verb is the same asthat of the complement verb.Llamaré a Antonia para invitarla a la fiesta. (see 25.1.22.1)I’ll call Antonia in order to invite her to the party.Nos reunimos con el contable para revisar las cuentas.We met with the accountant in order to check the accounts.43.5.3Para + noun/pronounWhen followed by a noun or pronoun para indicates destination.He comprado estas flores para mi tía. (see 25.1.22.2)I’ve bought these flowers for my aunt.Son para ella.They are for her.43.5.4 De manera/modo/forma que + subjunctiveAfter para que, these are the expressions most commonly heard in the expression ofpurpose. Like para que, they will be followed by the subjunctive, except whenexpressing consequence, in which case they will be followed by an indicative verb,and they will often translate into English as ‘and so’ instead of ‘so that’. Unlike paraand the expressions which follow, de manera/modo/forma que are not used with aninfinitive.18.2.1 (p. 86)Lo discutiremos, de manera/modo/forma que lleguemos a unaconclusión lo antes posible.We’ll discuss it so that/in order that we may reach a conclusion as soonas possible.Le hablé muy despacio de manera/modo/forma que me entendiera.I spoke to him/her very slowly so that/in order that he/she mightunderstand me.Compare these sentences with:Lo discutimos mucho, de manera/modo/forma que llegamos a unaconclusión.We discussed it at length, and so we reached a conclusion.Le hablé muy despacio de manera/modo/forma que me entendió.I spoke to him/her very slowly, and so (as a result) he/she understood me.43.5.5A fin/con el fin de que + subjunctive; con el objeto de que + subjunctive; con elpropósito de que + subjunctiveThese expressions are used in the same way as para que, and have the same meaning,but are more formal than para que and the expressions in 43.5.4 above.259