Pour que (so that, in order that) is always followed by Le Subjonctif Présent (subjunctive mood)

Aurélie Drouard

2021-04-26

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Look at these sentences expressing a purpose:

J'apprends le tango pour que nous dansions ensemble.I'm learning tango so that we may dance together.

Je lui explique pour qu'il comprenne.I'm explaining to him so that he understands.

Je te le dis pour que tu ne sois pas surpris. I'm telling you so that you're not surprised.

Je te donne mes clés pour que tu puisses entrer.I'm giving you my keys so that you can come in.

When something happens so that / in order that someone else does something in French, we use the expression pour que followed by a verb in the Subjunctive mood.

Note that you can also use the rarer and more elegant afin que + Subjonctif :

Je te donne mes clés afin que tu puisses entrer.I'm giving you my keys so that you can come in.

NOTE: The subjunctive in English has fallen out of use, so literal translations may seem archaic: Je lui explique pour qu'il comprenne. literally: I'm explaining to him so that he may understand. In modern English: I'm explaining to him so he can understand.

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Examples and resources

Je te donne mes clés afin que tu puisses entrer.I'm giving you my keys so that you can come in.

J'apprends le tango pour que nous dansions ensemble.I'm learning tango so that we may dance together.

Tu apporteras des citrouilles pour qu'on les sculpte?Will you bring pumpkins for us to carve?

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