Pour + [infinitive] = In order to + [do] in French

Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE

Last updated: 2023-01-16

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In French, to express "in order to" + [verb], you use "pour" + Infinitif.

Learn how to use "pour" with an Infinitif in French

Look at these expressions of purpose:

Elle a acheté de la farine pour faire un gâteau.She bought flour (in order) to make a cake.

Je vais au cinéma pour voir un film.I'm going to the cinema (in order) to see a film.

Pour y aller, tu as besoin de prendre le bus.To go there, you need to take the bus.

Je prends des leçons pour apprendre le français.I'm taking lessons to learn French.

To express a purpose in French (in order to [do something]), we use the preposition pour + [infinitif].

You can also use the more elegant expression afin de + [infinitif] in the same context:

Je prends des leçons afin d'apprendre le français.I'm taking lessons (in order) to learn French.

Case of pour + reflexive verbs

Je vais dans ma chambre pour m'habiller.I'm going to my room (in order) to get dressed.

Tu lis pour te relaxer.You read to relax.

Nous allons à la fête foraine pour nous amuser.We're going to the funfair to have fun.

Les hommes utilisent des rasoirs pour se raser.Men use razors to shave.

To express purpose with reflexive verbs, you will follow this pattern:

Pour + me/te/se/nous/vous/se + infinitive

ATTENTION:
The reflexive pronoun needs to match the subject of the verb (who's doing the action) :

Je vais dans la salle de bains pour se laver me laver.

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