لِـ + Subjunctive Verb

In Order to

Level 2

The Lām al-Ta’līl (لِـ) is a prefix meaning 'in order to' or 'so that.' It attaches directly to a present-tense verb and changes its ending to the subjunctive mood.

How It Works

The Lām al-Ta’līl (لام التعليل) is a prefix used to express purpose or reason. While it is visibly the trigger for the subjunctive mood, it is technically a preposition followed by a 'hidden an' (أن مضمرة). This hiding is permissible (jawāzan), so you may occasionally see the explicit form لِأنْ.

1. Morphological Features:
The Lām al-Ta’līl always carries a kasra (لِـ). The verb ending changes based on its conjugation:

  • Singular verbs: The final ḍamma (-u) becomes a fatḥa (-a). For example, يكتبُ becomes لِيَكتبَ.
  • The Five Verbs: These are specific verb forms like the plural (يفعلون) or dual (يفعلان). They drop the final nūn. For example, تكتبين becomes لِتكتبي.
  • Feminine Plurals: Verbs for 'they (fem.)' and 'you (plural fem.)' ending in nūn al-niswa are indeclinable and do not change their form (e.g., يكتبنَ remains لِيَكتبنَ).

2. Negative Purpose:
To say 'in order not to', the Lām merges with the explicit particle 'an' and the negative 'lā' to form لِئَلَّا. For example: لِئَلَّا ينسى. Note that in this specific form, the 'an' is visible and merged, not hidden.

3. Alternatives:
A very common and interchangeable synonym for Lām al-Ta’līl is likay, which also triggers the subjunctive mood.

4. Comparison with Lām al-Amr:
Do not confuse this with the Lām of Command, which triggers the jussive mood. A key tip: when preceded by 'wa' (و) or 'fa' (ف), the Lām of Command changes its vowel to a sukūn (e.g., فَلْيَكتُب), whereas Lām al-Ta’līl always keeps its kasra (فَلِيَكتُبَ).

5. Usage:
This is the primary construction for expressing purpose. Because it acts like a preposition, the entire clause can often be replaced by a verbal noun preceded by the same Lām (e.g., لِيَدرُسَ becomes لِلدِّراسةِ).

Examples (5)

  1. أَدْرُسُ كَثِيراً لِأَنْجَحَ فِي الِامْتِحَانِ.

    I study a lot in order to succeed in the exam.

    Word by Word: I-study much in-order-that I-succeed in the-exam.

    The verb 'anjah' takes a fatḥa because of the Lām of Purpose. Technically, this Lām is a preposition followed by a hidden 'an', which is why the whole phrase functions like a verbal noun.

  2. يَجِبُ أَنْ تَنَامِي مُبَكِّراً لِتَسْتَيْقِظِي نَشِيطَةً.

    You (fem.) must sleep early so that you wake up energetic.

    Word by Word: Must that you-sleep early in-order-that you-wake-up energetic.

    The verb 'tastayqidhī' has dropped its final nūn because it is in the subjunctive mood for the 'anti' (you feminine) form.

  3. خَرَجْنَا لِئَلَّا نَتَأَخَّرَ عَنِ المَوْعِدِ.

    We left so as not to be late for the appointment.

    Word by Word: We-left in-order-that-not we-are-late from the-appointment.

    To say 'in order not to', the Lām, the hidden 'an', and the negative 'lā' merge into the single word 'li-’allā' (لِئَلَّا).

  4. تَجْتَمِعُ الطَّالِبَاتُ فِي القَاعَةِ لِيَدْرُسْنَ مَعاً.

    The students (fem.) gather in the hall to study together.

    Word by Word: Gather the-students (fem.) in the-hall in-order-that they-study together.

    The feminine plural verb 'yadrusna' remains unchanged because it is indeclinable, despite the presence of the Lām.

  5. سَافَرُوا إِلَى أُورُوبَّا لِيَعْمَلُوا هُنَاكَ.

    They traveled to Europe in order to work there.

    Word by Word: They-traveled to Europe in-order-that they-work there.

    The plural verb 'ya'malū' drops the nūn and adds a silent alif in the subjunctive mood triggered by the Lām.

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing the Lām of Purpose with the Lām of Command.

    يَذْهَبُ إِلَى السُّوقِ لِيَشْتَرِ خُبْزاً.
    يَذْهَبُ إِلَى السُّوقِ لِيَشْتَرِيَ خُبْزاً.

    While both use the prefix لِـ, the Lām of Purpose (Lām al-Ta’līl) triggers the subjunctive mood (ending in -a), whereas the Lām of Command (Lām al-Amr) triggers the jussive mood (ending in sukūn or dropping the final weak letter). For example, 'li-yashtari' (jussive) would be a command, while 'li-yashtariya' (subjunctive) correctly expresses purpose.

  • Forgetting to drop the nūn in the 2nd person feminine singular (anti).

    تَذْهَبِينَ إِلَى المَكْتَبَةِ لِتَقْرَئِينَ.
    تَذْهَبِينَ إِلَى المَكْتَبَةِ لِتَقْرَئِي.

    The verb for 'you (feminine singular)' is one of The Five Special Verbs. When the Lām of Purpose is attached, the final nūn must be dropped, resulting in 'li-taqra'ī' instead of 'li-taqra'īna'.

  • Incorrectly changing the ending of feminine plural verbs.

    يَذْهَبْنَ لِيَدْرُسَ.
    يَذْهَبْنَ لِيَدْرُسْنَ.

    Feminine plural verbs (ending in nūn al-niswa) are indeclinable (mabnī). They do not change their ending even when preceded by the Lām of Purpose.

How It Connects

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لِـ + Subjunctive VerbLevel 2In Order to

Learn This First

To understand 'li' (in order to), you must first be familiar with the present-tense verb conjugation. Additionally, you need to understand the concept of the 'mansub' case/mood, as this particle changes the verb's ending from the standard 'u' to 'a'. Knowledge of the question word 'why' helps contextualize the purpose of this grammar structure.

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