Understanding Infinitives of Purpose: A Quick Guide
Do you know how and when to use an infinitive to express purpose? Challenge yourself with some interactive exercises and explore the explanation below!
Infinitives of Purpose in Action
Infinitives can help us explain why we do certain things. Here are some examples:
- He went to the shops to buy some shoes.
- I’m writing to ask for your help.
- My father runs every day to keep healthy.
Grammar Insight
When answering the question why?, we often use an infinitive of purpose. Typically, this takes the form of the to-infinitive. Here are a few examples:
- Why do you have the LearnEnglish Grammar app?
To improve my grammar. - Why do we always eat at home?
We eat at home to save money. - Why do you have a bicycle?
I use it to go to work. - Why does she run every morning?
She runs to keep fit.