selleks et

In Order to (Selleks Et)

Level 3

Tulin selleks, et sind aidata means I came to help you. The purpose comes after et.

How It Works

To say why you do something, use et or the fuller selleks et (literally "for that, that").

Same doer: et + da-infinitive. Ma õpin eesti keelt, et rääkida sõpradega. Ta tõusis vara, et jõuda esimesele rongile. Use the da-infinitive here, never the ma-infinitive.

Different doer: et + full clause. The verb is often in the conditional: Räägi aeglaselt, et kõik aru saaksid. Kirjutan selle üles, et sa ei unustaks.

et or selleks et? Both mean the same. selleks adds emphasis, like "for this reason". It is common at the start of a sentence: Selleks et keelt õppida, pead palju rääkima.

Commas. The purpose part is separated by a comma. In the middle of a sentence, the comma can go before the whole pair or between its two parts; putting it between them stresses the purpose: Tulin, selleks et sind aidata ~ Tulin selleks, et sind aidata. At the start of a sentence, no comma goes between the parts.

Going somewhere to do something usually needs no et, because verbs of motion take the ma-infinitive: Lähen poodi leiba ostma.

In formal writing you may also meet -maks with the same meaning: Ta tuli varakult, leidmaks head istekohta. For "in order not to", use et mitte: Ta rääkis vaikselt, et mitte last äratada.

Examples (6)

  1. Ma õpin eesti keelt, et rääkida sõpradega.

    I am learning Estonian to talk with my friends.

    The same person learns and talks, so et takes the da-infinitive.

  2. Tulin selleks, et sind aidata.

    I came to help you.

    Word by Word: I-came for-that that you to-help

  3. Räägi aeglaselt, et kõik aru saaksid.

    Speak slowly so that everyone understands.

    Different doers, so et starts a full clause with a conditional verb.

  4. Ta tõusis vara, et jõuda esimesele rongile.

    She got up early to catch the first train.

  5. Selleks et keelt õppida, pead palju rääkima.

    To learn a language, you have to speak a lot.

    At the start of a sentence, selleks et stays together.

  6. Kirjutan selle üles, et sa ei unustaks.

    I will write it down so that you don't forget.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the ma-infinitive after et.

    Ma õpin eesti keelt, et rääkima sõpradega.
    Ma õpin eesti keelt, et rääkida sõpradega.

    A purpose with et takes the da-infinitive.

  • Leaving out et, as with English "to".

    Ma õpin eesti keelt rääkida sõpradega.
    Ma õpin eesti keelt, et rääkida sõpradega.

    An infinitive alone does not show purpose here. Add et (or selleks et) and a comma.

  • Leaving out the comma.

    Tulin selleks et sind aidata.
    Tulin selleks, et sind aidata.

    A purpose clause is separated by a comma, either before selleks or before et.

How It Connects

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

selleks etLevel 3In Order to (Selleks Et)

Learn This First

Purpose uses et with a clause or the da-infinitive.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

etsee