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When to use "por" before an infinitive verb?

от bd77, 17 май 2014

Съобщения: 6

Език: English

bd77 (Покажи профила) 17 май 2014, 13:12:45

I keep coming across different situations when "por" is placed in front of an infinitive verb and other times when it isn't, but I can't seem to figure out what when its meant to be used. Two sentences in the Vere aŭ Fantazie story for example:

#1 "se mi nun prenos iom de via tempo por klarigi"
#2 "mi havis la grandan feliĉon multe vojaĝi tra la mondo"

Why isn't the first sentence "de via tempo klarigi", if klarigi means "to explain"? Or why isn't the second sentence "la grandan feliĉon por vojaĝi"? I feel like there is some sort of rule that I'm not seeing, about when por should be used in front of an infinitive and when it shouldn't.

Thanks

Fenris_kcf (Покажи профила) 17 май 2014, 15:25:29

bd77:I feel like there is some sort of rule that I'm not seeing, about when por should be used in front of an infinitive and when it shouldn't.
Indeed, there is. The confusion is most likely caused by the fact, that English uses "to" for both situations. I think you can utilize the following rule: If it is possible to use "in order to" instead of just "to" or if there's a proper representation with "for" and a noun, it is to be translated with "por", e.g. in sentence #1 ("if i will take some of your time to clarify" ):

"if i will take some of your time in order to clarify"
"if i will take some of your time for clarification"

One can't do that with sentence #2 ("i had the great pleasure to travel around the world quite often" ).

bd77 (Покажи профила) 17 май 2014, 23:54:22

Fenris_kcf:
bd77:I feel like there is some sort of rule that I'm not seeing, about when por should be used in front of an infinitive and when it shouldn't.
Indeed, there is. The confusion is most likely caused by the fact, that English uses "to" for both situations. I think you can utilize the following rule: If it is possible to use "in order to" instead of just "to" or if there's a proper representation with "for" and a noun, it is to be translated with "por", e.g. in sentence #1 ("if i will take some of your time to clarify" ):

"if i will take some of your time in order to clarify"
"if i will take some of your time for clarification"

One can't do that with sentence #2 ("i had the great pleasure to travel around the world quite often" ).
OK, I think I get it now. Thanks.

sudanglo (Покажи профила) 18 май 2014, 12:39:45

Yes, the 'in order to' substitution rule can be quite helpful, but I am not sure that it will work in all cases.

For example:

Mi havas nenion por manĝi (nothing to eat)

Por diri la veron .... (to tell you the truth)

Fenris_kcf (Покажи профила) 18 май 2014, 13:09:11

sudanglo:Mi havas nenion por manĝi (nothing to eat)
Ah, yes, that's one more situation where "to" is used. It this case one can replace "to eat" with "eatable" (not sure if that's a word at all, but in principle).

sudanglo:Por diri la veron .... (to tell you the truth)
Hmm, "in order to tell the truth" and "for telling the truth" are not correct?

sparksbet (Покажи профила) 19 май 2014, 02:56:21

Fenris_kcf: Ah, yes, that's one more situation where "to" is used. In this case one can replace "to eat" with "eatable" (not sure if that's a word at all, but in principle).
I believe the word you're searching for is "edible."

In any case, that sentence can be written using "for," as well: "I have nothing for eating." Not exactly Shakespeare, but it illustrates why "por" is used pretty well.

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