a fin de que/con el fin de que + Subjunctive

Purpose Clauses (Formal)

Level 5

Use 'a fin de que' or 'con el fin de que' followed by the subjunctive to formally state the purpose of an action, meaning 'so that' or 'in order that'.

How It Works

'A fin de que' and 'con el fin de que' are interchangeable phrases that mean 'so that' or 'in order that'. They are used to express the purpose or goal of an action and are considered more formal than the common equivalent, para que.

Key Rules for Usage:

  • Expressing Purpose: The clause introduced by these phrases explains why the action in the main clause is performed.
  • Change of Subject: Different subjects are common, but the purpose construction selects subjunctive, not the subject change itself.
  • Subjunctive Mood: The verb that follows 'a fin de que' or 'con el fin de que' must always be in the subjunctive.

Structure:
Main Clause + a fin de que / con el fin de que + Subordinate Clause (verb in subjunctive)

Example:
El gobierno implementó nuevas leyes a fin de que los ciudadanos vivan más seguros.
(The government implemented new laws so that the citizens live more safely.)
Here, the subject of the main clause is 'el gobierno', and the subject of the subordinate clause is 'los ciudadanos'. The purpose clause takes subjunctive. Present vivan can keep the purpose relevant to now or the future despite the past main verb.

Contrast with 'a fin de + infinitive':
With the same subject, the usual concise choice is 'a fin de' (or para) followed by an infinitive.

  • Possible with emphasis, but wordier: Yo estudio a fin de que yo apruebe el examen.
  • Usual concise form: Yo estudio a fin de aprobar el examen. (I study in order to pass the exam.)

Sequence of Tenses:
The tense depends on the main verb and the time viewpoint of the purpose. The combinations below are common, not automatic rules.

  • With a present, future, or present-perfect main verb, a simultaneous or later purpose commonly uses the present subjunctive.
    Te lo explico ahora a fin de que lo entiendas. (I'm explaining it to you now so that you understand it.)
  • With a past main verb, a purpose viewed from that past point commonly uses the imperfect subjunctive.
    Te lo expliqué a fin de que lo entendieras. (I explained it to you so that you would understand it.)

Examples (5)

  1. La empresa ofrece capacitación con el fin de que sus empleados mejoren sus habilidades.

    The company offers training so that its employees improve their skills.

    Word by Word: The company offers training with the end of that its employees improve their skills.

    Mejoren expresses the intended improvement from the current viewpoint.

  2. El profesor repitió la lección a fin de que todos los estudiantes la comprendieran.

    The professor repeated the lesson so that all the students would understand it.

    Word by Word: The professor repeated the lesson to the end of that all the students it would understand.

    Comprendieran presents understanding as the purpose viewed from the past lesson.

  3. Se firmó el acuerdo a fin de que ambas naciones colaboraran en el proyecto.

    The agreement was signed so that both nations would collaborate on the project.

    Word by Word: Was signed the agreement to the end of that both nations would collaborate on the project.

  4. Te doy mi número de teléfono con el fin de que me llames si tienes algún problema.

    I'm giving you my phone number so that you call me if you have any problems.

    Word by Word: To you I give my number of phone with the end of that me you call if you have some problem.

  5. Habían preparado un plan de evacuación con el fin de que todos estuvieran a salvo.

    They had prepared an evacuation plan so that everyone would be safe.

    Word by Word: They had prepared a plan of evacuation with the end of that everyone would be safe.

    Estuvieran presents the intended safety within the past planning context.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the indicative mood instead of the subjunctive.

    Te lo explico a fin de que lo entiendes.
    Te lo explico a fin de que lo entiendas.

    The purpose clause takes subjunctive entiendas. Subject change is common here, but is not what independently determines the mood.

  • Using indicative in a finite purpose clause.

    Trabajo mucho a fin de que gano más dinero.
    Trabajo mucho a fin de ganar más dinero.

    Gano is indicative and does not fit this purpose clause. A fin de ganar is the usual concise same-subject form; a fin de que gane is also possible in an appropriate context. The error is the mood, not simply retaining the same subject.

How It Connects

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

a fin de que/con el fin de que + SubjunctiveLevel 5Purpose Clauses (Formal)

Learn This First

To learn 'a fin de que' and 'con el fin de que', you must first understand how purpose clauses work in Spanish using the subjunctive mood. These are formal alternatives to 'para que'. You need a solid grasp of present subjunctive conjugations and how prepositions are used to build complex conjunctions.

Words in This Pattern

a fin de quecon el fin de que