pour

For with Pour

Level 1

The preposition pour usually translates to 'for' or 'in order to.' It points forward toward a goal, a person, or a future plan.

How It Works

1. Recipient (The 'Who')
Use pour to show who is intended to receive an object or benefit from an action.
Example: C'est pour toi. (It is for you.)

2. Purpose (The 'Why')
When followed by a verb in the infinitive, pour means 'in order to.'
Example: Je travaille pour gagner de l'argent. (I work [in order] to earn money.)

3. Cause or Reason
Use pour followed by a noun or a past infinitive to indicate a cause or reason.
Example: Merci pour votre aide. (Thank you for your help.) / Il a été puni pour avoir menti. (He was punished for having lied.)

4. Destination
With verbs of movement like partir, pour indicates the destination.
Example: Je pars pour Lyon. (I am leaving for Lyon.)

5. Opinion
It is used to express a personal point of view.
Example: Pour moi, c'est facile. (For me/In my opinion, it's easy.)

6. In Favor Of
Use pour to express that you support or are in favor of something (the opposite of contre).
Example: Je suis pour cette idée. (I am for this idea.)

7. Price
Use pour when talking about a general cost or price. (Note: For exact prices with the verb acheter, it is more natural to drop the preposition: Je l'ai acheté dix euros.)
Example: Je l'ai eu pour dix euros. (I got it for ten euros.)

8. Comparison
Use pour to show a relationship or contrast between two things.
Example: Il fait chaud pour un mois de décembre. (It is warm for a month of December.)

9. Intended Duration
Use pour specifically for an intended or projected duration, regardless of the tense of the sentence (often with verbs like partir or aller). For general or completed durations, use pendant.
Example: Il est parti pour deux semaines. (He left for two weeks.)

10. Percentages
Use pour to express percentages with pour cent.
Example: Cinquante pour cent. (Fifty percent.)

11. Idiomatic Verbs
Some verbs naturally require pour to complete their meaning, such as voter pour (to vote for), passer pour (to pass for), or être connu pour (to be known for).
Example: Il est connu pour ses films. (He is known for his movies.)

12. As for / Regarding
Use pour to introduce a topic or shift focus, meaning 'as for' or 'regarding.'
Example: Pour le dessert, nous avons une tarte. (As for dessert, we have a tart.)

13. On Behalf Of / In Place Of
Use pour to indicate that an action is done on behalf of or in place of someone else.
Example: Je signerai pour vous. (I will sign for you.)

14. Grammar Note: Same Subject Rule
When using pour to mean 'in order to', you can only use pour + infinitive if the subject of the action is the same as the main clause. If the subject changes, you must use pour que followed by the subjunctive.

15. Grammar Note: No Contractions
Unlike à or de, pour never contracts with articles. You always write pour le or pour les as separate words.

16. Too / Enough (trop / assez)
Use pour after trop (too) or assez (enough) before an infinitive to mean 'too/enough to do something.'
Example: Il est trop jeune pour comprendre. (He is too young to understand.)

Examples (6)

  1. Ce cadeau est pour ma mère.

    This gift is for my mother.

    Word by Word: This gift is for my mother.

    Here, 'pour' indicates the recipient of the gift.

  2. Il étudie beaucoup pour réussir.

    He studies a lot to succeed.

    Word by Word: He studies a lot for to succeed.

    When followed by an infinitive (réussir), 'pour' expresses the goal or purpose.

  3. Le train part pour Paris à midi.

    The train is leaving for Paris at noon.

    Word by Word: The train leaves for Paris at noon.

    'Pour' is used with verbs of movement like 'partir' to indicate the destination.

  4. Pour moi, c'est une bonne idée.

    In my opinion, it's a good idea.

    Word by Word: For me, it is a good idea.

    'Pour' can express a point of view or opinion.

  5. Nous allons à Paris pour trois jours.

    We are going to Paris for three days.

    Word by Word: We go to Paris for three days.

    This uses 'pour' for a planned future duration.

  6. Vingt pour cent des étudiants sont absents.

    Twenty percent of the students are absent.

    Word by Word: Twenty for hundred of the students are absent.

    'Pour' is used in the expression 'pour cent' to indicate percentages.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'pour' for general or completed durations.

    J'ai habité à Lyon pour deux ans.
    J'ai habité à Lyon pendant deux ans.

    In French, 'pour' is only used for an intended or projected duration, regardless of the tense of the sentence (often with verbs of motion). For any other duration (past, present, or general), use pendant.

  • Adding 'pour' after verbs like 'chercher' (to look for) or 'attendre' (to wait for).

    Je cherche pour mon sac.
    Je cherche mon sac.

    In French, these verbs already include the 'for' meaning. Adding 'pour' is redundant and incorrect.

  • Using 'pour' + infinitive when the subject changes.

    Je travaille pour toi être heureux.
    Je travaille pour que tu sois heureux.

    You can only use 'pour' + infinitive when the subject of both verbs is the same. If the subject changes (e.g., 'I work' so 'you are happy'), you must use pour que followed by the subjunctive.

How It Connects

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pourLevel 1For with Pour

Learn This First

To use 'pour' effectively, you need to understand basic sentence structure and how to use articles (definite and indefinite) with the nouns that follow the preposition.

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