כדי + Infinitive

Saying What an Action Is for

Level 3

כדי ללמוד means in order to learn. It names the intended goal of another action, rather than guaranteeing that the goal was achieved.

How It Works

A Purpose, Not a Cause

באתי כדי לדבר says that talking was my aim in coming. It does not say that the conversation actually happened. Compare באתי כי רציתי לדבר, where a complete reason clause explains why I came.

Keep the Infinitive

Use an actual infinitive after כדי: כדי ללמוד, כדי להסביר and כדי להיפגש. The initial ל belongs to that learned infinitive. Do not replace it with a present or future personal form merely because the main sentence has one.

A Separate Subject

When the purpose has its own stated subject, use a clause such as דיברתי לאט כדי שדנה תבין, I spoke slowly so that Dana would understand. The infinitive’s understood performer depends on the construction and context; the clause makes a changed subject explicit.

Examples (4)

  1. אני קורא כדי ללמוד.

    I read to learn.

    The reading and learning share an understood performer.

  2. באתי כדי לדבר איתך.

    I came to talk with you.

    Talking is the purpose of coming.

  3. יצאנו מוקדם כדי להגיע בזמן.

    We left early to arrive on time.

    The infinitive names the intended result.

  4. דיברתי לאט כדי שדנה תבין.

    I spoke slowly so that Dana would understand.

    The purpose clause names a different subject.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a finite verb directly after כדי.

    באתי כדי מדבר איתך.
    באתי כדי לדבר איתך.

    Use the infinitive לדבר; a complete purpose clause instead needs כדי ש.

How It Connects

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

כדי + InfinitiveLevel 3Saying What an Action Is for

Learn This First

Express purpose with an infinitive activity and its understood actor.