da bih

In Order to

Level 4

Da with the conditional can state a purpose.

How It Works

Use the conditional auxiliary that matches the purpose clause’s subject: da bih for I, da bismo for we, da biste for you plural or polite. The participle agrees in gender and number.

The subjects of the two clauses can differ. In Govorim polako da bi me djeca razumjela, the speaker talks and the children are meant to understand.

A stated purpose is an intention, not proof that the result occurred. Da also introduces content clauses elsewhere; identify the purpose from the relationship between the actions.

Examples (3)

  1. Učim hrvatski da bih razumjela obitelj.

    I am learning Croatian so that I can understand my family.

    Bih razumjela matches a female first-person subject.

  2. Krenuli smo rano da bismo stigli na vrijeme.

    We left early in order to arrive on time.

    Bismo matches the plural subject we.

  3. Govorim polako da bi me djeca razumjela.

    I speak slowly so that the children can understand me.

    The purpose clause has a different subject, djeca.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

da bihLevel 4In Order to

Learn This First

Da with a conditional expresses purpose while retaining the subordinate subject’s agreement.

Words in This Pattern

biti