Infinitive of purpose: to + verb

Rules

• Rule 1: action + to + base verb

  First say what someone does, then add to + verb to say why. The verb after to is always the base form.

  Pattern: sentence + to + base verb

  Example: We went to the park to play tag.

  Example: He opened the door to let the cat in.

• Rule 2: Why? – To …

  We can answer a Why…? question with just To + base verb.

  Example: Why are you going outside? – To feed the birds.

  Example: Why did she call you? – To ask about the trip.

• Rule 3: the verb after to never changes

  Even in the past tense, and even with he/she, the verb after to is always in the base form: never ~~to went~~ or ~~to goes~~.

  Example: Yesterday I went out to buy bread.

  Example: She goes to the pool to swim.

• Rule 4: noun → for, verb → to

  If the purpose is a noun, use for: for a walk, for lunch. If a verb follows, use to: to walk.

  Pattern: for + noun · to + verb

  Example: Let's go out for an ice cream.

  Example: Let's go out to eat ice cream.

• Rule 5: in order to

  in order to means the same and is a bit more formal. Negative purpose: in order not to.

  Example: He practiced in order to win.

  Example: I whispered in order not to wake the baby.

Common mistakes

• I went to the store for buy milk. → I went to the store to buy milk.

  Translating “için” as for is wrong; before a verb use to.

• She went out to bought a gift. → She went out to buy a gift.

  The verb after to stays in the base form.

• We came here for learning English. → We came here to learn English.

  A person's purpose → to + verb, not for + -ing.