How French works
In terms of language function, a goal is a form of result that is desired. For this reason, when the goal is expressed in a subordinate clause , the verb is often in the subjunctive .
Il a parlé plus fort pour qu'elle puisse entendre
He spoke louder so she could hear
Pour que / afin que (less common) (both + subjunctive) - so / in order that
Le patron m'a laissé partir 2 heures en avance pour / afin que je puisse prendre mon train
The boss let me leave 2 hours early so that I could catch my train
Que + subjunctive - so that
This is used in spoken French after the imperative with the same sense of pour que:
Apporte-le ici que je puisse le regarder de plus près
Bring it here so I can take a closer look at it
De peur que (ne) / de crainte que (ne) (less common) (both + subjunctive) - for fear that
These are used when the aim is to avoid a particular result. Note that the ne (called an expletive ne) does not express a negative , and is not compulsory:
Le docteur a prescrit des antibiotiques de peur / crainte que son état (ne) s'aggrave
The doctor prescribed antibiotics for fear that his / her condition would get worse
De sorte que / de façon (à ce) que / de manière (à ce) que + subjunctive - so that.
These are used with the subjunctive when expressing a desired result:
Ils ont changé la date de la soirée de sorte que je puisse venir
They rearranged the party so that I could come
J'ai rangé les livres par ordre alphabétique de façon (à ce) que l'on puisse les retrouver facilement
I've arranged the books in alphabetical order so (that) they can be found easily
Il a pris un jour de congé de maladie de manière (à ce) qu'il puisse regarder le match
He took a day off sick so that he could watch the match
Note, however, that these constructions take the indicative when expressing a simple consequence. Compare, for example:
Quelqu'un a enlevé le panneau de sorte que les gens ne sachent plus où aller
Someone has taken down the sign so that (i.e. in order that) people don't know which way to go
Quelqu'un a enlevé le panneau de sorte que les gens ne savent plus où aller
Someone has taken down the sign so that (i.e. with the result that) people don't know which way to go
For a list of verbs expressing a desired result, see the table marked "personal will" at the end of Unit 22.
Goal is often expressed using a relative clause structure with verbs of seeking (chercher, ne pas trouver, il y a, montrer, etc.) or wishing (aimer, souhaiter, vouloir, avoir envie). Where the goal expressed is non-existent or hypothetical, the subjunctive is generally used:
Il cherche un livre qui ait une bonne intrigue
I'm looking for a book which has a good story line
However, when the goal expressed is existent, the indicative is generally used:
L'Homme au masque de fer est un livre qui a une bonne intrigue
The Man in the Iron Mask is a book which has a good story line
Where the subject of the verb in the subordinate clause would be the same as that of the main clause verb, an infinitive must be used. The following prepositions can take an infinitive:
Pour / afin de (less common) - in order to / so as to
Elle est partie une heure en avance pour / afin d'être sûre d'arriver à son rendez-vous à l'heure
She left an hour earlier so as to be sure of getting to her appointment on time
Note, however, that after most être verbs (aller, venir etc.) the pour is omitted where there is nothing between the verb and its infinitive :
Je suis allé(e) chercher le livre dans ma chambre
I went to fetch the book from my room
Where there is something between the verb and its infinitive, the pour generally reappears:
Je suis monté(e) dans ma chambre pour chercher le livre
I went upstairs to my room to fetch the book
Note that where English uses the construction (in order) for + [subject] + [infinitive], French uses pour / afin que + [subject] + [finite verb]:
(In order) for these measures to succeed there needs to be a period of low inflation
Pour/ afin que ces mesures réussissent, il faut une période de faible inflation
De peur de / de crainte de (less common) - for fear of
Ils ont traversé la chambre sur la pointe des pieds de peur / crainte deréveiller les enfants
They walked through the bedroom on tiptoe for fear of waking the children
De façon à / de manière à - so as to
Le cycliste a mis un vêtement aux couleurs vives de façon / manière à être plus visible pour les automobilistes
The cyclist wore bright-coloured clothing so as to be more visible to motorists
En vue de (less common) - with a view to, in order to
Le Ministre a publié une mise au point en vue de clarifier la situation
The Minister issued a statement with a view to clarifying the situation
Histoire de (informal) - just to
Elle a décidé de prendre quelques jours de congé, histoire de changer d'air un peu
She decided to takes a few days holiday, to have a bit of a change of scene
Some of the above structures can be followed by a noun rather that an infinitive . The resultant clause is called a verbless clause, as it expresses an implied action without containing a verb.
Pour - for
Il a fallu cinq ans pour la mise en oeuvre de cette réforme
It took five years for this reform to be implemented
Pour plus de renseignements, écrivez à notre service clientèle
For more information, write to our customer service department
De peur de / de crainte de (less common) - for fear of
Les forces de l'ONU sont restées sur place de peur/ crainte d'une reprise des hostilités
The UN forces remained where they were for fear that fighting should break out again
Viser quelque chose / à faire - to aim to do
Ce projet de loi vise à améliorer la situation des immigrés
This bill aims to improve the situation of immigrants
Cibler - to be aimed at, target
Cette nouvelle boisson cible les jeunes en priorité
This new drink is aimed mainly at young people
Être destiné à faire - to be intended to
Note that when the subject / head noun is not a person, this generally has the meaning to be intended or meant to do and not to be destined to do:
Des mesures destinées à réduire le taux de chômage ont été discutées au parlement
Measures aimed at reducing unemployment were discussed in Parliament
Parvenir / réussir à faire - to manage to do
Il est parvenu / a réussi à finir tous ses projets avant de partir en vacance
He managed to finish all his projects before going off on holiday
Cette dissertation a pour but de discuter du pour et du contre de l'Union Européenne
The aim of this report is to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the European Union
S'assurer que (+ indicative) / de quelque chose - to make sure that / of something
This means to make sure in the sense of checking something:
Après avoir acheté votre billet, assurez-vous que votre passeport est valide
After buying your ticket, make sure that your passport is valid
Note that assurer used with a noun means to carry out or provide something rather than to make sure of something:
Nous assurons aussi un service de livraison à domicile
We also provide a home-delivery service
When translating into English, it is often best to discard the assurer altogether, and simply verbalize the noun to which it refers:
de peu
La gestion de l'association
est assurée par un groupe de bénévoles
The association is run by a group of volunteers
Faire en sorte que (+ subjunctive) - to make sure that, to see to it that
This means to make sure in the sense of actually doing something:
Mon passeport étant périmé, j'ai fait en sorte qu'il soit renouvellé
As my passport was out of date, I made sure that it was renewed
Faire que + subjunctive (informal) - to make sure that
Fais que ta chambre soit rangée avant que je rentre
Make sure your room is tidy when I get beck
Être à la recherche de / être en quête de - to be looking for / in search of
Ils sont toujours à la recherche / en quête d'un nouveau logement
They're still looking for somewhere else to live