per + Infinitive

In Order to

Level 3

Per plus an infinitive says why: Vau a Tolosa per veire Maria.

How It Works

Purpose	Pattern	Example
to do something	per + infinitive	Prenèm lo tren per anar a Besièrs.
to avoid something	per pas + infinitive	Partissèm d'ora per pas arribar tard.

The verb after per is an infinitive, never the form ending in -ent. English can say for seeing, but Occitan uses per veire.

The first verb can be in any tense: Soi anat a Tolosa per veire Maria.

Before a noun, per means for or through: Aquò es per tu. Before an infinitive, it gives the purpose.

The short answer to Perqué vas a Tolosa? can start with per: Per veire Maria.

Vau a Tolosa per veire Maria.
I go to Toulouse to see Maria.
Per veire gives the purpose of the trip.
Prenèm lo tren per anar a Besièrs.
We take the train to go to Béziers.
Per anar answers why we take the train.
Soi aicí per aprene occitan.
I am here to learn Occitan.
Per aprene gives the reason for being here.
Obrissi la fenèstra per ausir los aucèls.
I open the window to hear the birds.
Per ausir links the action to its purpose.
Partissèm d'ora per pas arribar tard.
We leave early so as not to arrive late.
Per pas negates the purpose.

Using the -ent form after per, as English uses for seeing.
Vau a Tolosa per vesent Maria.
Vau a Tolosa per veire Maria.
After per, Occitan uses the infinitive. The -ent form is for the gerund, with en.

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

per + InfinitiveLevel 3In Order to

Per plus an infinitive gives a purpose, so per and the infinitive come first.

perpas

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