a fin de que / co fin de

Formal Purpose Expressions

Level 5

In formal style, a fin de que + subjunctive means so that: Convocamos a reunión a fin de que todos opinen. Co fin de + infinitive means in order to.

How It Works

Formal purpose

Everyday Galician uses para and para que. Official letters, news and reports often prefer longer forms:

  • a fin de que + subjunctive: Convocamos a reunión a fin de que todos opinen.
  • a fin de or co fin de + infinitive: Madrugamos co fin de coller o primeiro tren.
  • co obxectivo de + infinitive: O concello abriu unha oficina co obxectivo de axudar ás familias.

Same subject or different subject

If the person who does the purpose is the same as the main subject, use the infinitive. If it is someone else, use a fin de que + subjunctive, or a personal infinitive: Pedímoslles os datos a fin de poderen solicitar a axuda (so that they can apply for the grant).

Tense

After a past main verb, the imperfect subjunctive is usual: Explicouno de novo a fin de que ninguén quedase con dúbidas. If the purpose still lies ahead, the present subjunctive is also possible: Convocamos a reunión a fin de que todos opinen. See sequence of tenses.

Contractions

Co is con + o; do not write con o fin. After que, an unstressed pronoun goes before the verb: a fin de que o revise.

Examples (6)

  1. Convocamos a reunión a fin de que todos opinen.

    We called the meeting so that everyone can give their opinion.

    A different subject (todos), so a fin de que + subjunctive.

  2. Enviámoslle o informe a fin de que o revise.

    We sent her the report so that she can review it.

    The pronoun o goes before revise after que.

  3. Madrugamos co fin de coller o primeiro tren.

    We got up early in order to catch the first train.

    The same subject does both actions, so co fin de + infinitive.

  4. O concello abriu unha oficina co obxectivo de axudar ás familias.

    The town council opened an office with the aim of helping families.

    Co obxectivo de is common in official and news language.

  5. Pedímoslles os datos a fin de poderen solicitar a axuda.

    We asked them for the details so that they could apply for the grant.

    The personal infinitive poderen marks a different subject (they).

  6. Explicouno de novo a fin de que ninguén quedase con dúbidas.

    He explained it again so that no one would be left with doubts.

    After a past main verb, the imperfect subjunctive quedase is used.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the indicative after a fin de que.

    Convocamos a reunión a fin de que todos opinan.
    Convocamos a reunión a fin de que todos opinen.

    A purpose clause is not a fact yet, so it takes the subjunctive.

  • Not contracting con with the article.

    Madrugamos con o fin de coller o tren.
    Madrugamos co fin de coller o tren.

    When con goes with the noun, it contracts with the article: con + o = co.

  • Using a fin de que when the subject is the same.

    Madrugamos a fin de que collamos o tren.
    Madrugamos a fin de coller o tren.

    When the same people do both actions, use the infinitive, not a que clause.

How It Connects

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

a fin de que / co fin deLevel 5Formal Purpose Expressions

Learn This First

Formal purpose phrases preserve the subject and mood distinctions of ordinary para constructions.

Words in This Pattern

fina