Learn English Grammar: Infinitives of Purpose

Alex is putting on a T-shirt of Kaonashi to show off that he is a fan of Split Away?.

FELES

It’s called Spirited Away in North America, and yes, I love most Miyazaki movies. :)

Alex

Wow! I made a mistake!

FELES

Thanks for the lesson Alex.

MamadoumDiallo

Hi Teacher,
I have a litle concern at:He decided to go to Hawaii __________ a relaxing vacation. ==> I chose :having.

Why did he decide to go to Hawaii? ==> Having a relaxing vaction. Is it ok?
THanks Teacher,

dhnguyen

You must use “to have.” Why did he decide to go to Hawaii? :)

Alex

I learn english to speak very well

Somayehsmm

Keep it up! :) Welcome to EngVid.

Alex

Got 100 :) . Alex, tell me if I use “for, to and for staying” in this sentence which is ” I go the gym ….. Healthy”. Will it consider fine?

Annie

Alex ,why you have given the options for both ” to and for” in quiz , When you already told both are correct to use?

Annie

They started doing yoga “to improve / for improve /for improving ” their health . Can we use any one of them in a structure”?

Annie

You must use “to improve.” Many students make the mistake of using “for.” You can sometimes use “for + gerund” if it’s a longer action.

Alex

Thank you !

Annie

Hi Alex the subject was so easy please teach some tough lessons. tnx

Zahra

I have beginner, intermediate, and advanced lessons on the site. You can filter them better by checking out my teacher page.

Alex

Thanks, Alex. You are one of my favorite teacher of envid.com¡

capi007

Thanks, capi! That’s very nice to hear!

Alex

I got 10 correct out of 10. I had to say something to thank Alex. :)

Mohammad

Perfect! You’ve mastered the form.

Alex

Thank you teacher….!!!

Jakub Alvarez

As always, it’s my pleasure, Jakub. Nice to see you commenting again!

Alex

Thanks!

Tarcisio Neto

Any time! Thanks for studying with me and with EngVid. :)

Alex

Thank’s Alex, useful lesson! I’m one of those that use “for” instead “to”. To or for, that’s the question! In spanish we only have a preposition (para).

Jorge

It’s okay sometimes for longer actions, and if you follow it with a gerund (verb + ing). However, to be safe, it’s best to use to + base verb in these situations.

Alex

thanks Alex you have a Simple style of education

Mohamed mgn

Thanks, Mohamed. I always feel it’s better to be clear than complicated.

Alex

How to do answers the quiz questions?
I did not even see a single question when i clicked on quiz?

Hartej

I see the quiz directly under the video, so I’m not sure why you can’t see it. Maybe try a different browser? I’m using Google Chrome.

Alex

I got 100 ! thank you Alex for the great test :-D

Lilia Khazri

Any time. Thanks for studying with me, Lilia.

Alex

good~

Hyunkyung kim

You’re welcome! Thanks for checking out the lesson, zorro.

Alex

Thanks, Alex.

zigmund

You’re quite welcome! Thanks for checking out the video, zigmund. :)

Alex

Thank you Alex. Firts time login with first teacher in engvid. You lesson so useful. I got 10 correct. I didnt think to much when I did, just follow what did you teach. I dont know it good or bad.
thanks again Alex.

GIGI174

Welcome to EngVid, Gigi! Thanks for checking out the video, doing the quiz, and leaving a comment. Let me correct your grammar a bit…

“This was my first time logging into EngVid. Your lesson was so useful. I got 10 correct. I didn’t think too much when I did the quiz, just followed what you taught. I don’t know if it’s good or bad.”

Good luck with your studies!

Alex

Excellent lesson and of course Teacher is the best.Thanks Alex,.

Benyapha

My pleasure! Thanks for watching and for studying with me, Benyapha!

Alex

Thanks, for your support

vasfer

Any time, vasfer. Thanks for studying with EngVid.

Alex

thanks alex for your helping

rooble abdillahi

My pleasure. Thanks for studying with EngVid, rooble.

Alex

I confused
How i can study this web?

Sharqawi

I’m not sure if I understand your question. What do you mean? To study with EngVid, most students watch the videos that are interesting to them and then practice by doing the quizzes.

Alex

Thank you so much! It was a useful lesson.

Ibrahim Adil

That’s great to hear! And you wrote a grammatically perfect comment. Way to go! :)

Alex

I got 9 over 10

Sharqawi

Nice work! Keep on studying.

Alex

Thank you so much, Alex.

Júlio César L Sousa

No problem Julio Cesar. By the way, I’ve always wondered…do you prefer being called Julio, Cesar, or Julio Cesar?

Alex

Hi Alex. Some people call me Júlio César, but almost everyone calls me Júlio.

Júlio César L Sousa

Answering your question, I like both ways, Alex. Don’t worry.

Júlio César L Sousa

Thank you, Alex, it was very useful.
May you set out some example of ” a longer action” with “for+ gerund”

Hassan ABS

Sure! Just keep in mind that it’s more common to use an infinitive of purpose in most scenarios.

I wear glasses for driving.
She bought a blender for making smoothies.
We need a cabinet for storing official documents.
They use their car for city driving.

Alex

Thank you, and hear what I have understood from what you have just laid out.
The key is that you can use either structure to get the same meaning, on a condition you have to use them in a right order.
An instance from your lesson
” I go to the gym to stay healthy”.
Mine ” I go to the gym for staying healthy”
I don’t know if I am right. Please inform me. if you would.

Hassan ABS

Thanks a lot Sir!!

knopfler86

Always a pleasure, rock star! Nice to see you again.

Alex

thanks teacher

Reinaldo Lima

My pleasure, Reinaldo! I’m glad you enjoyed the lesson. :)

Alex

Thamks Alex, your classes ins amazing.

Euder

*Tanks, sorry.

Euder

Hi Euder, my pleasure! And it’s actually spelled “Thanks.” :)

Alex

Thanks Alex , i got 100/100 .

Eman Elgammal

Nice work! The next step is to put this knowledge into practice.

Alex

Very interesting and useful lesson as usual. Thanks Alex.

byte

I do my best, byte. Thanks for checking out the video. It’s always nice to see you!

Alex

I test the quiz to know my understanding
I got 90 percent

Souk

“I did the quiz to check my understanding.”

Nice job! The next step is to use the knowledge in real situations.

Alex

wow !! do not have mistaks

Mustafa104Ahmed

“I didn’t make any mistakes.” Good job! :)

Alex

I love this lesson

Roni dey

Thanks, Roni. I hope it was useful!

Alex

Always great Alex :)

Gabriel

Thanks, Gabriel! I’m glad you found it useful!

Alex

I have got a 100 percent. Thank you for help Alex. I will follow you.

TrMustafa01

That’s great! Welcome to EngVid! :D Let me know if you have any questions. I try to check all comments on my newest videos.

Alex

Thank you for help Alex. I will follow you.

TrMustafa01

My pleasure. Welcome to EngVid!

Alex

Hi. Thank you

Krit2468

Hello! You’re very welcome.

Alex

The teacher teaches very well.

songv85

Thank you, song! I’m glad you enjoyed the lesson. Keep practicing!

Alex

Hey, Alex. Thanks of a good explanation. I got 90 from 100. I’ll follow You (need a grammar+vocabulary to grow up)

LudmilaUA

I understand and I feel the same way in French. :) Good luck and let me know if you have any questions. I usually read the majority of my comments on my newest videos.

Alex

HI ALEX,THANKS A LOT FOR THIS LESSON.I GET THIS SCORE 10.

BENJUDE PREMIER

Great job! The next step is putting your new knowledge into practice. Keep it up!

Alex

Thank you for this video! It is a superb way to learn English, likewise, it is very funny. I learn English every day in order to improve my English because now this is my sole purpose. Thank you a lot! :)

Irina Marilena

Great use of the target language! Keep on studying and practicing, and thanks for checking out this lesson!

Alex

How can to download vedio?

Arshad abdulla

Sorry, our videos can only be streamed on YouTube!

engVid Moderator

Awesome teacher

KcrJanu

Thanks! I’m glad you’re enjoying the lessons! :)

Alex

I got 90marks

KcrJanu

Nice job! Keep it up!

Alex

Thank you so much. This video is very useful.
Let me ask you this one,
‘These materials seem not easy many students have not met the minimum passing grade, so, they, …’
What should it be?
need to retrain or need retraining?

Mey

I really like Alex class. Its funny and It works always!

Valery Mel

That’s great to hear! I’m glad the classes are useful for you. :)

Alex

wow

Awesome teacher

peter philo

Thank you. I hope it was clear!

Alex

I got 10 correct out of 10. ThankS you Alex!

jenny laure

Nice work! The next step is to put the knowledge into practice.

Alex

you’re the best Alex!! Thanks for every teaching!! in my opnion you’re the best teacher here in the Engvid!

Kemii Athon

That’s very kind of you to say. Thanks! I’m glad you’re enjoying my videos. :)

Alex

Thanks for your lesson Alex: it was very useful to me.
I have a question for you: does the form “for + ing” have the same meaning than the one you speak about in this lesson? For example: can I say “I’m studying English for improving my job prospects” as well as “I’m studying English to improve my job prospects”?
Thank you in advance for your reply
F.

federico.orso

I am writing this comment to thank you.I watch your videos daily to improve my english.

satbir42

I pulled the door to open.
Can I say I pulled the door open
?

Nida.kia

Hello dear teacher.
I have a problem.I don’t know when I can use infinitive at the begining of the sentence and when for + gerund.
Like this:
To learn English you should work hard.
For learning English you should work hard

Nida.kia

The method of your teaching is really great and I learned a lot from your lessons.

I got 10 of 20 from quiz.

Bahar Sadat

Alex please I need well explained parts of speech

Henry James

Thank you, sir, for the lesson.

Sabry Sabah

we are little confused about ‘WILL HAVE”
can you please ,,,,

ruwan d

Thank you, I really like your way of explaining.

Zahra'a Abdullah

Hello sir, I am little confused with the usage of to and for. Where to use ‘to’ and where to use ‘for’? Please explain.

Gaganendu

she doesn’t eat too much to lose weight

khine Thazin Htun

Thank you so much Alex.. Your teaching is easy to understand and catch your words for listening.
I’ve practiced your lesson.
Thank you..

khine Thazin Htun

Thanks teach <3

Uzias

Hi Alex, It’s a useful lesson
Did you mean we use “for” when we are talking about action takes a long time?

abood80

100，thanks

Neal

Thank you to teach helpfully.

Umberto-Eco

thanks for this leason i found it so benificial just i have a question here can we conjugate the verb after (to) .

herofaith

Thanks you Alex, your videos are very useful. I started to learn english in the begining of this years and I´m improving a lot thank for you.

dani.geo14

sir i have got 10 out of 10
but i want to go deap in english
what you recommend for me to do

pankaj singh negi

I need to watch your videos to improve my english. Thanks Alex:)

Yahyasahin

Thanks, teacher. 100!

GustavoAlberto

Thank you teacher i get 100

Alhajajy

thanks Alex, your lesson is very clear

Dolcececilia

10/10. Hell yeah
Thank you, Mr.Alex

datnguyentien

Really I have interested in your teaching method, so I have to study hard to get a good knowledge of English.

gatevisa64

Thank you, Alex! You’re iron!

Milen Dobrev

Thank you, you are awesome

almowahed

ı am watching Alex to learn something about English.

sule8289

thank you Alex you are perfect

Hooman Mozafarian

Wow! Remarkable I am very happy now because you clear my confusion.
Thanks a lot.

Noor84

ı genuinely can improve my English skills thank to Alex

akin

Oh! I mistake 3 Questions..

Somasundharam

GREAT .THANK YOU SO MUCH.i usually use mistaks between for and to .in the past i couldn’t difenciate between these words but now i become better .thank to you Mr Alex .you are my favorite teacher …good bye

TOUFIK269

good morning .i have an idea to talk about it to improve my GENERALE knowledge .it’s about english tourism .i would like to plan a lesson about this field .for exemple .canada ….what are the most important things in this country ?? WHY THE PEOPLE GO THERE ,,? AND ABOUT FOOD …ETC THANK YOU …..good bye

TOUFIK269

Thank you very much, it´s a nice theme.

Carlos Eduardo Vasconez

I made one mistake because I answered the questions too fast!

maddiEng

thanks alex! love your lessons

mariana

Thank you Alex. It’s a great lesson. I study English with Alex to improve vocabulary.

huynhbeti

You got 9 correct out of 10.
:)
Thanks you very much

Temirzhan

You got 10 correct out of 10.:D
Thank you Alex!

Temirzhan

Thank you Mr. Alex!

Alex-1956

Could I use the past tense in its negative form to make a sentence?

Emilio Rivera

Thanks

Student741

10 out of 10 thank you sir

imad messaoudi

I got 10 out of 10 thank you for your effort

Banan Abdel-naser

Wow, Wonderful! it is a common English student doubt too. You helped us a lot with this very didactic explanation. By the way I liked that exercise of reapeting after you. You rock!

izabel gurnet

Alex you are really amazing. Your teaching method is so awesome. I can easily understand. Thank for this great lesson. In some situation can we use for instead of to?? Is it possible.

Kannika Hegde

thanks alex, it is easy to understand than others

diananda

Hi Alex! In the sentence “His goal is to do the best job he can.” what is the infinitive/infinitive phrase?

MythicalBeast

I watched this video twice on May 24, 2021, and I took the quiz after watching it once. I got ten correct out of 10.

ergn

Hell0,
My name is Samir Alkhouri, I am a former English teacher. I am doing a teacher training course TESOL at ASU. If you allow me, I will use your website as a reference in my lesson plan, for students to practice the “to Infinitive”, and other materials.
Of course, thousands of other teachers, of my colleagues will be able to have a look at your website.