for at

In Order to (For at)

Level 3

In Danish, when you want to say you are doing something in order to achieve a goal, you use the construction for at followed by the infinitive form of the verb.

How It Works

The construction for at is essential for intermediate learners because English often uses a simple 'to' (e.g., 'I went to buy milk'), whereas Danish requires the full for at to clearly mark intention.

Key Rules:

  • Structure: Main Clause + for at + Infinitive Verb.
  • Same Subject: You can only use this if the subject of both verbs is the same. If the subjects are different, use så instead.
  • Negation: If you want to say 'in order not to,' the word ikke must be placed before at (e.g., for ikke at tabe).
  • For at vs. Til at: Use for at for a person's goal or intention. Use til at when describing the function of an object (e.g., 'en kniv til at skære med' - a knife for cutting).
  • Register: This is a neutral, high-frequency pattern used in both spoken and written Danish.

Examples (5)

  1. Jeg træner hver dag for at tabe mig.

    I exercise every day in order to lose weight.

    Word by Word: I train every day for to lose me.

    Here, 'for at' explains the purpose of the daily training.

  2. Hun tog til København for at besøge sin mormor.

    She went to Copenhagen to visit her grandmother.

    Word by Word: She took to Copenhagen for to visit her grandmother.

    Even though English just says 'to visit', Danish requires 'for at' to show the intention.

  3. Vi må skynde os for at nå toget.

    We must hurry in order to catch the train.

    Word by Word: We must hurry us for to reach the train.

    The goal of hurrying is to catch the train.

  4. Jeg læser dansk for at få et job i Danmark.

    I study Danish to get a job in Denmark.

    Word by Word: I read Danish for to get a job in Denmark.

    The intention behind studying is the future job.

  5. Han blev hjemme for ikke at blive syg.

    He stayed home in order to not get sick.

    Word by Word: He stayed home for not to become sick.

    Notice how 'ikke' is placed before 'at' in this construction.

Common Mistakes

  • Dropping 'for' and using only 'at'.

    Jeg gik i butikken at købe mælk.
    Jeg gik i butikken for at købe mælk.

    English speakers often translate 'to buy' as just 'at købe', but in Danish, purpose requires 'for at'.

  • Using 'for at' when the subjects are different.

    Jeg taler langsomt for at du kan forstå mig.
    Jeg taler langsomt, så du kan forstå mig.

    If the second action is performed by a different person (you), use så (so that) instead of 'for at'.

  • Misplacing 'ikke' in the purpose clause.

    Jeg løber for at ikke komme for sent.
    Jeg løber for ikke at komme for sent.

    In Danish, the negation ikke must be placed before 'at' in this specific construction.

How It Connects

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

for atLevel 3In Order to (For at)

Learn This First

To understand 'for at', you first need to be comfortable with the Danish infinitive marker 'at' and how it connects to verbs. Since 'for at' is used to express purpose (in order to), knowing basic word order and the preposition 'for' provides the necessary foundation for constructing these sentences.

Words in This Pattern

for atfor at