за да + Verb

Purpose with За Да

Level 2Sounds Like za da

За да gives a purpose: Уча, за да говоря с приятели. (I study so that I can talk with friends.) Bulgarian has no "to" infinitive, so the verb after за да changes for the person.

How It Works

1. A verb with a person. English says "to help"; Bulgarian says "so that I help". The verb after за да is a present-tense form:

  • Дойдох, за да ти помогна. (I came to help you.) The helper is "I".
  • Говоря бавно, за да ме разбереш. (I speak slowly so that you understand me.) The subject changes to "you".

2. Aspect. For one goal with a result, use the perfective (see perfective verbs after да): за да купя, за да науча. For an ongoing or repeated goal, use the imperfective: Уча, за да говоря с приятели.

3. Negative purpose. За да не means "so that ... not": Тръгни рано, за да не закъснееш. (Leave early so that you are not late.)

4. Word order. The purpose can come first: За да научиш език, трябва да практикуваш. Short pronouns go between да and the verb: за да ти помогна.

5. Comma. The official rules put a comma before за да (see commas before subordinate clauses), or after the clause when it comes first.

6. After verbs of motion. After отивам or идвам, plain да is also common: Отивам до магазина да купя хляб. (I am going to the shop to buy bread.)

Examples (6)

  1. Уча български, за да говоря с приятели.

    I am learning Bulgarian so that I can talk with friends.

  2. Дойдох, за да ти помогна.

    I came to help you.

    Помогна is first person because I am the one helping.

  3. Говоря бавно, за да ме разбереш.

    I speak slowly so that you understand me.

    The subject of the purpose clause is "you", so the verb is разбереш.

  4. За да научиш език, трябва да практикуваш всеки ден.

    To learn a language, you have to practise every day.

    When the purpose comes first, the comma goes after it.

  5. Взимам чадър, за да не се намокря.

    I'm taking an umbrella so that I don't get wet.

  6. Спестявам пари, за да си купя кола.

    I'm saving money to buy myself a car.

Common Mistakes

  • Using за without да before a verb.

    Уча, за говоря с приятели.
    Уча, за да говоря с приятели.

    Bulgarian has no infinitive, so a purpose with a verb needs the full conjunction за да.

  • Not matching the verb to the person who does it.

    Дойдох, за да помогне.
    Дойдох, за да помогна.

    For "I came to help", the helper is "I", so the verb is the first person помогна. Помогне would mean "so that he or she helps".

  • Leaving out the comma before за да.

    Уча български за да говоря с приятели.
    Уча български, за да говоря с приятели.

    The purpose clause is a subordinate clause, and the spelling rules require a comma before за да.

How It Connects

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за да + VerbLevel 2Purpose with За Да

Learn This First

Purpose with за да combines за and the да clause.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

за даза