How do you say "so that he can"?

Question

Hola,

I'm trying to write something like: "We'll come back to the house so he can have a look around"

But I'm getting stuck with the "so (that) he can" bit: "Volveremos a casa ... ???"

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Rangi

Answer 1

I think that you could use para que in this instance, and I believe that you would need to use the subjunctive mood for the second clause

That would be the most common form to use. - 00494d19, SEP 9, 2009

Answer 2

Changing the spelling a little bit, but not the meaning, you can say "vamos a volver a la casa así él puede mirar alrededor."

Answer 3

Hi Noam

Why use the subjunctive here though for "pueda"?

I am not sure if you are literally asking why "pueda" needs to be conjugated into the subjunctive or why use the subjunctive form of poder, so I will try to answer both questions.

Pueda is already in the subjunctive.

I believe that the subjunctive would be necessary for two reasons. First, there is a change in subject (from we to he). The second reason is that "para que" is one of those adverbial conjunctions that is ALWAYS followed by the subjunctive.

Answer 4

Thanks so much for your help guys. The community here is amazingly helpful, I look forward to knowing a bit more Spanish so I can start answering some questions, rather than just asking them all the time! And I'll keep an eye out for questions about English, in case I can help there.

I need to learn this little "linking" words and phrases such as para que and así, they're really essential aren't they?

Gracias!

Rangi, your posts are always very nice and friendly. NIla often asks questions about English. - 00494d19, SEP 9, 2009

Answer 5

Rangi, I would translate like this: "Volveremos a la casa, para que él pueda darse una vuelta" or "Vamos a regresar a la casa para que él pueda mirar alrededor"

Answer 6

But in my experience, conversational spanish isn't wordy like that. "Abre la puerta" would more than enough.

Do you mean to suggest that you cannot conceive of a situation in which it might be desirable to explain why someone should open the/a door? Is it that all of the people with whom you speak are mind readers or that you would never issue such a command without having already explained why the door should be opened? In English it is possible (and not especially unusual) to "combine" an order with an explanation of the reason for the order.

Obviously, when speaking to one's henchmen (rather than one's friends) such social niceties need not be observed. Simple orders (that aren't "wordy") are sufficient for those who owe unquestioning obedience.

Answer 7

Asi que puede. Abre la puerta asi que puede entrar.

Abre la puerta así poder entrar - Izanoni1, SEP 9, 2009

Style of speech? Truth be told, I hardly ever hear the word "poder" in any form. I've never heard anyone use that particular construction. But that's just my experience. - ChamacoMalo, SEP 9, 2009

Answer 8

Thanks JohnJuan. Would it also be possible to say this?

"Abre la puerta para que pudea entrar"

In conversation, I've never heard it like that. Pueda, at least in conversation as I've heard it, is "could". But in my experience, conversational spanish isn't wordy like that. "Abre la puerta" would more than enough. - ChamacoMalo, SEP 9, 2009

Abre la puerta. Why??? Abre la puerta asi que puede entrar, nino!!! - ChamacoMalo, SEP 9, 2009

Answer 9

Why use the subjunctive here though for "pueda"?