aby

So That: Aby

Level 3

aby + l-form: Prišiel som, aby som pomohol. (I came to help.) Chcem, aby si prišiel. (I want you to come.)

How It Works

The forms

  • (ja) aby som prišiel / prišla
  • (ty) aby si prišiel / prišla
  • (on, ona, ono) aby prišiel / prišla / prišlo
  • (my) aby sme prišli
  • (vy) aby ste prišli
  • (oni, ony) aby prišli

These are the same pieces as in The Conditional Mood, but aby takes the place of by. Never add a second by. Use ste with polite vy too: Prosím vás, aby ste počkali. (Please wait.)

1. Purpose: so that, in order to

Učím sa slovenčinu, aby som sa mohol rozprávať so starou mamou. (I'm learning Slovak so that I can talk with my grandmother.)

After verbs of going, such as ísť and prísť, a plain infinitive is also common when the same person acts: Prišiel som pomôcť. See Going To Do Something.

2. Wanting someone else to do something

After chcieť (want), prosiť (ask), povedať (tell someone to) and similar verbs, aby introduces what another person should do: Chcem, aby si prišiel. (I want you to come.) English says want you to, but Slovak needs a whole clause with aby. When the same person wants and does, use an infinitive: Chcem prísť. (I want to come.)

More on passing on requests is in Reported Commands.

3. So that something does not happen

Add ne- to the verb: Zatvor okno, aby nám nebola zima. (Close the window so we don't get cold.)

Comma and word order

A comma always comes before aby. The short words som, si, sme, ste and pronouns like sa, mi, ti come right after it: aby som ti pomohol, aby sa nebál.

Examples (6)

  1. Prišiel som, aby som ti pomohol.

    I came to help you.

    Word by Word: Came I-am, so-that I-am you helped.

    Purpose. The same person comes and helps, so aby is followed by som and the l-form pomohol.

  2. Chcem, aby si prišla na moju oslavu.

    I want you to come to my party.

    Wanting another person to act. Speaking to a woman, so prišla.

  3. Učím sa slovenčinu, aby som sa mohol rozprávať so starou mamou.

    I'm learning Slovak so that I can talk with my grandmother.

    The reflexive sa comes right after som.

  4. Mama nám povedala, aby sme boli doma o šiestej.

    Mom told us to be home at six.

    After povedať, aby passes on an instruction.

  5. Zatvor okno, aby nám nebola zima.

    Close the window so we don't get cold.

    A negative purpose: aby with a negated verb.

  6. Hovorte pomalšie, aby vám rozumel.

    Speak more slowly so that he understands you.

    Third person: aby with no som, si, sme or ste.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the present tense after aby.

    Chcem, aby si prídeš.
    Chcem, aby si prišiel.

    Aby works like the conditional, so its verb is always the l-form (prišiel, prišla, prišli), never the present tense.

  • Using že after a verb of wanting.

    Chcem, že prídeš.
    Chcem, aby si prišiel.

    Že reports a fact or an opinion. A wish or request about another person needs aby with the l-form.

  • Adding a second by after aby.

    Prišiel som, aby by som pomohol.
    Prišiel som, aby som pomohol.

    Aby already contains by. Add only som, si, sme or ste.

How It Connects

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

abyLevel 3So That: Aby

Learn This First

Before So That: aby, learn The Conditional Mood and Saying That: že. aby is followed by the l-form, like the conditional. aby introduces a clause, as že does.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern