English name/explanation of this lesson

Question

Hello:  I understand the rule being explained here and am pretty comfortable using it.  But I'm struggling with the English explanation/translation in the title of the lesson, specifically the term "Cause for," as in "Pour (+être) allé = Cause for going/having gone" - can anyone help explain?   I'm trying not to overthink it, but my inability to understand the principle being articulated here is now making me doubt my previous intuitive understanding of this construction, lol.  Thanks in advance for any insights!

Accepted Answer

Hi Kathleen, 
We have decided to change the title to 'Expressing cause with ...'
Hope you like it better.
Bonne Continuation !

Answer

Hi Kathleen,Have you tried to think of "pour" in the sense of "to indicate the goal or aim"?Pour  --> in order to .... rather than simply "for"Just a thought.Bonne journéeJim

Answer

Thanks for the reply Jim. Yes, I think that's a good description of how I do understand "pour" to be operating, but I'm still not seeing what that has to do with "cause," as indicated in the lesson title.

However, looking further down the page I think I've now found a formula that will be easier for me to remember and understand than what is written in the lesson title, namely: "To express for doing [something] in French, you use pour + Infinitif passé". Or put the other way, Pour + Infinitif passé = for doing [something].

This site is truly a marvelous resource, both in terms of information and the opportunity to discuss small little grammar matters like this. Bonne journée à tous!

Answer

Bonjour de nouveau Kathleen,"In order to be gone"  -->, this is the "cause"  --> "pour être allé" "cause to be gone"Tricky isn't it?Bonne journéeJim