Going Somewhere to Do Something

Level 2

Motion verb + infinitive = going somewhere to do something: Einu pavalgyti. Atėjau padėti.

How It Works

English says I am going to eat. Lithuanian simply puts the infinitive after the verb of motion.

1. Verbs that work this way. Verbs of going and coming, such as eiti and važiuoti, ateiti, atvažiuoti, grįžti and bėgti:

  • Einu pavalgyti. (I am going to eat.)
  • Atėjau padėti. (I came to help.)
  • Vakare einame pasivaikščioti. (In the evening we are going for a walk.)
  • Atvažiavome į Palangą pailsėti. (We came to Palanga to rest.)

The place can come in between, with į + accusative: Važiuoju į Kauną aplankyti draugo.

2. The object is usually in the genitive. In standard Lithuanian, an otherwise accusative object of this infinitive normally takes the genitive: Važiuoju aplankyti draugo. (I am going to visit a friend.) Compare the plain sentence Aplankiau draugą. (I visited a friend.) You may hear the accusative in casual speech, but the genitive is the standard choice.

3. Sometimes the noun alone is enough. A genitive noun can carry the purpose by itself: Einu į parduotuvę pieno. (I am going to the shop for milk.)

4. Other verbs use kad. This bare infinitive belongs with verbs of motion. With other verbs, a purpose is usually given by kad with the conditional: Dirbu, kad galėčiau keliauti. (I work so that I can travel.) Never put kad directly before an infinitive.

Examples (6)

  1. Einu pavalgyti.

    I am going to get something to eat.

    Word by Word: I-go to-eat.

    The infinitive pavalgyti comes straight after einu.

  2. Atėjau padėti.

    I came to help.

    Word by Word: I-came to-help.

  3. Vakare einame pasivaikščioti.

    In the evening we are going for a walk.

    Word by Word: In-evening we-go to-take-a-walk.

  4. Važiuoju į Kauną aplankyti draugo.

    I am going to Kaunas to visit a friend.

    Word by Word: I-go-by-vehicle into Kaunas to-visit friend.

    Draugo is genitive: this is the usual object case after a purpose infinitive.

  5. Mama nuėjo į parduotuvę nupirkti duonos.

    Mom went to the shop to buy some bread.

    Word by Word: Mom went into shop to-buy bread.

    Duonos is genitive, meaning some bread.

  6. Atvažiavome į Palangą pailsėti.

    We came to Palanga to rest.

    Word by Word: We-arrived into Palanga to-rest.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting kad before the infinitive.

    Einu, kad pavalgyti.
    Einu pavalgyti.

    After a verb of motion, the infinitive needs no joining word. Kad is followed by a full verb form, never by an infinitive.

  • Giving the second verb a personal ending.

    Einu valgau.
    Einu valgyti.

    The verb that shows the purpose stays in the infinitive, such as valgyti or reflexive pasivaikščioti.

How It Connects

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

Going Somewhere to Do SomethingLevel 2

Learn This First

A motion verb can be followed by an infinitive naming the purpose of the trip.

Words in This Pattern

eitiateitivažiuoti