Expressing purpose - Putting in context - Functions - A Practical Guide - Modern Italian Grammar

Modern Italian Grammar: A Practical Guide, Third Edition (2013)

Part B. Functions

IV. Putting in context

33. Expressing purpose

33.1 Introduction

Purpose involves an element of premeditation. A purpose clause tells us what the subject's intention or purpose is, or was, in advance of the action. A reason clause tells us — after the event — why someone did something or why something happened. Both ‘reason’ clauses and ‘purpose’ clauses are introduced by conjunctions (see 5.3) or other connecting words. Generally, clauses of reason (see also 34.3.1) have a verb in the indicative (see 2.2.2), while clauses of purpose have a verb in the subjunctive (see 2.2.14). The difference between them is best illustrated by the conjunction perché which is used to express both reason (see 15.3.3) and purpose (see below), followed by the indicative and the subjunctive respectively.

Reason: perché and verb in indicative:

Ho parlato lentamente perché l'interprete doveva tradurre.

I spoke slowly because the interpreter had to translate.

Purpose: perché and verb in subjunctive:

Parlerò lentamente perché l'interprete possa tradurre.

I will speak slowly so that the interpreter can translate.

In grammatical terms, the most important factor in expressing purpose is to determine whether only the subject of the first verb is affected by the action or whether another person or object is affected as well. These two different situations are explained in 33.2 and 33.3 respectively.

33.2 Purpose involving only the subject of the action

In Italian, when the aim or purpose involves only the subject of the action, it is expressed by one of the following:

(a)Prepositions per a and infinitive (see 2.2.1)

The preposition most frequently used to express purpose is per (see 4.3.6, 4.4.4) ‘in order to’:

Lucia ha lavorato per pagarsi le vacanze.

Lucia worked to pay for her holidays.

Lo facciamo per risparmiare tempo.

We are doing it to save time.

Mi sono alzata presto per prendere il treno delle 5.00.

I got up early to catch the 5.00 am train.

Chiudi la porta per non far entrare il gatto.

Shut the door so as not to let the cat in.

With verbs expressing movement, such as andare, venire, correre, you can use either a or per (see 4.4.1, 4.4.4). Whereas a tends to focus on where you are going, per has more of a sense of purpose and indicates the reason why you are going there:

I turisti vanno a Roma per vedere il Papa.

Tourists go to Rome to see the Pope.

Mentre eravamo a Roma, siamo andati a vedere il Papa.

While we were in Rome, we went to see the Pope.

Devo andare a Londra per rinnovare il passaporto al Consolato italiano.

I have to go to London to renew my passport at the Italian Consulate.

I ragazzi sono andati a casa di Edoardo a guardare un DVD.

The boys went to Edoardo's house to watch a DVD.

Teresa veniva da me per fare lezioni d'italiano.

Teresa used to come to me to do Italian lessons.

(b)Prepositional phrases al fine di, allo scopo di and infinitive

Phrases used to express purpose include:

allo scopo di (con lo scopo di)

with the aim of …

al fine di

with the aim of …

Lucia ha lavorato allo scopo di pagarsi gli studi universitari.

Lucia worked to pay for her university studies.

Abbiamo lanciato il nuovo prodotto al fine di conquistare il mercato italiano.

We have launched the new product with the aim of conquering the Italian market.

Other phrases expressing future intention can be found in 14.9.

(c)Pur di

An element of desperation is implied by use of the phrase pur di ‘just to’:

È disposto a tutto pur di non fare il servizio militare.

He's willing to do anything just to get out of military service.

La signora Ferri avrebbe fatto di tutto pur di essere invitata all'ambasciata.

Signora Ferri would have done anything to be invited to the embassy.

33.3 Purpose involving someone or something else

Where the aim or purpose expressed involves another person or object, other than the one carrying out the original action (the subject of the main verb), Italian uses a conjunction (see 5.3) to introduce a subordinate clause in which the person involved or affected is the subject of a verb in the subjunctive.

33.3.1 Conjunctions

Examples of conjunctions and phrases used to introduce a purpose clause are, in order of frequency, perché ‘in order that’, affinchè ‘in order that’, in modo che ‘in such a way that’, in maniera che ‘in such a way that’ (see also 5.3.3 and 5.3.5).

The subjunctive is used after these conjunctions because it is not certain that the purpose can be achieved. When the main verb is a present or future tense, the present subjunctive (see 2.2.16) is used; when the main verb is a past tense or present conditional, the imperfect subjunctive (see 2.2.18) is used:

Chiediamo agli albergatori di mettere a disposizione alcune camere al pianterreno perché i clienti disabili possano venire ospitati.

We ask hotel-owners to make available a few rooms on the ground floor so that disabled clients can be put up.

Il governo si impegnerà affinché la guerra civile non diventi un massacro.

The government will take steps so that the civil war does not become a massacre.

Volevamo organizzare il congresso per settembre in modo che venissero tutti i rappresentanti.

We wanted to organise the congress for September so that all the representatives came.

The normal order in sentences of this kind is to have the main clause followed by the subordinate clause (the purpose clause). But it is possible to reverse the order so that the purpose clause comes first:

Perché i clienti disabili possano venire ospitati in albergo, chiediamo agli albergatori di mettere a disposizione alcune camere al pianterreno.

So that disabled clients can be put up in hotels, we ask hotel-owners to put at their disposal a few rooms on the ground floor.

33.3.2 Alternatives to a purpose clause

In everyday speech and writing, in order to avoid a ‘heavy’ construction such as those above, Italians prefer alternative ways of expressing purpose.

Che expressing purpose

Where another person (or an object) is involved, you can use the relative pronoun che (see 3.5) to express what your intention is for that person or object, i.e. what you want him/it to do. The implication of ‘purpose’ is marked by the use of the subjunctive:

Facciamo venire un meccanico che ripari la lavatrice.

We'll call a mechanic who can repair the washing machine.

Volevamo prenotare una vacanza che ci permettesse di rilassarci e di visitare dei posti d'interesse.

We wanted to book a holiday which would allow us to relax and to visit some places of interest.

In spoken Italian, when the objective is more likely to be met, an indicative verb is sometimes used:

Chiamiamo il camieriere che ci porta una bella bibita fresca.

Let's call the waiter, who'll bring us a nice cold drink.

The use of the subjunctive to express purpose also implies that the speaker is looking for a type of person or object and not one specific person or object known to him or her. Note the difference between these two sentences:

Il direttore cerca un'assistente che possa tradurre le lettere commerciali e scrivere mail in inglese. (a type of person)

The manager is looking for an assistant who can translate commercial letters and write emails in English.

Il direttore cerca l'assistente nuova che può tradurre le lettere commerciali e scrivere mail in inglese, (a particular known person)

The manager is looking for the new assistant who can translate commercial letters and write emails in English.

Fare + infinitive

Another way to mention or bring into the conversation the person affected by your plans, is to use fare, with a direct or indirect object pronoun identifying the person affected either directly or indirectly (see 21.7). Study the examples below.

In this sentence ‘us’ is the indirect object of portare:

Telefoniamo alla Reception, per farci portare la colazione in camera.

Let's ring Reception to have breakfast brought to us in the room.

In this sentence ‘him’ is the direct object of fare:

Valentina ha chiamato il fidanzato per farlo venire alle 7.00.

Valentina called her boyfriend to have him come at 7 pm.

In the sentence below, ‘him’ is the indirect object of fare. This is because there is already a direct object in the sentence (macchina) and the person involved can only be expressed by an indirect object:

Valentina ha chiamato il fidanzato per fargli portare la macchina.

Valentina called her boyfriend to have him bring the car.

To summarise, there are three different ways of expressing purpose, depending on the register used. Ranging from highly formal to informal, they are:

Perché followed by the subjunctive (see 33.3.1):

Chiamo mia figlia perché prepari la cena.

I'll call my daughter so that she can make supper.

Per … fare, with a direct or indirect object pronoun and an infinitive (see above):

Chiamo mia figlia per farle preparare la cena.

I'll call my daughter to get her to make supper.

Che followed by an indicative (see above):

Chiamo mia figlia che prepara la cena.

I'll call my daughter who will make supper.

33.4 Purpose attached to a person or object

33.4.1 Per

Per can also describe the purpose of an object or person, for example:

Questo è un nuovo prodotto per liberare il bagno dagli scarafaggi.

This is a new product to free the bathroom of cockroaches.

Gli studenti hanno formato un'organizzazione per proteggere i diritti delle minoranze etniche.

The students formed an organisation to protect the rights of ethnic minorities.

Adesso che ho deciso di tornare al lavoro, devo trovare una persona per tenermi la bimba.

Now that I've decided to go back to work, I have to find someone to look after my child for me.

33.4.2 Da

Da can be used to express the purpose or use of an object in the passive sense, for example ‘a magazine to be read’, ‘something to be eaten’:

Vorrei comprare una rivista da leggere sul treno.

I'd like to buy a magazine to read on the train.

Dopo averci fatto aspettare 12 ore all'aeroporto, finalmente ci hanno offerto qualcosa da mangiare.

After making us wait 12 hours at the airport, they finally gave us something to eat.