Infinitive of Purpose
A to-infinitive can express the purpose of an action — the reason someone does something. It answers the question 'why?' and is a concise alternative to 'in order to'.
Level B1
Verbs & Verb Patterns
Summary
- A to-infinitive can express the purpose of an action — the reason someone does something. It answers the question 'why?' and is a concise alternative to 'in order to'.
Structure
main clause + to + base verb (= in order to)
Examples
- I went to the bank to withdraw some cash.
- She called to apologise.
- We're saving to buy a car.
- He stood up to get a better view.
Common mistakes
- • Using 'for' + infinitive: 'I came here for to study' should be 'to study'.
- • Using 'for' + gerund for personal purpose: 'I went out for buying milk' is better as 'to buy milk'.
Related
More verbs & verb patterns
Used To (Past Habits and States)
A2
Use 'used to' to talk about habits or states that were true in the past but are not true now.
Gerunds vs Infinitives
B2
Some verbs are followed by a gerund (-ing form) and others by an infinitive (to + verb). The choice depends on the first verb, and a few verbs change meaning depending on which form follows.
Phrasal Verbs (Introduction)
B1
A phrasal verb is a verb combined with a particle (like up, off, on, out) that often creates a new meaning. Some can be separated by their object, and some cannot.
Have Got
A2
'Have got' is a common British way to talk about possession, relationships, and characteristics. It means the same as 'have' but forms questions and negatives without 'do'.
Imperatives
A1
Imperatives give orders, instructions, invitations, and warnings. They use the base form of the verb with no subject; for negatives, put 'don't' first.
Like, Love, Hate + Verb-ing
A2
After verbs of liking and disliking such as like, love, enjoy, and hate, we usually use the -ing form of the next verb to talk about activities in general.