Para que--- What does it mean and what are the rules in using it?

Question

para que lo sepas para que te preste atención para que lo des

I'm aware you use sunbjunctive after it. But are there any rules when using it?

What does it actually mean?

Answer 1

"Para que" is not an independent and well defined entity per se; it is just a couple of words that happen to be together, like "more" and "cheese" in "I like more cheese". What are the rules for "more cheese" anyway?

In the phrase "para que lo sepas", chances are the sentence was "Lo dije para..." (I said it for/so that...", which should be followed by the reason why I said it. You could use a pronoun, like in "Lo dije para ti" (I said it for you), but you can use any other equivalent, such as a noun, an infinitive or a noun subordinate clause, such as "Lo dije para reírme" (I said it so I could laugh) or "Lo dije para que te rieras" (I said it so you would laugh).

Bottom line: "para" appears because this preposition is needed (normally to express a destination, a recipient or an aim), and "que" can follow, like many other words could.

You've explained that before, but I can never remember it. - 0074b507, Apr 4, 2011

Answer 2

There are other possible wordings in English, but the easiest that comes to mind is "so that."

Para que lo sepas = So that you/you'll know (it).

Para que te preste atención = So that I/he/she pays or I'll/he'll/she'll pay attention to you.

Para que lo des = So that you/you'll give it.

(Note that I gave two equivalents in English, since the future subjunctive in Spanish is no longer used and the purpose is served by the present subjunctive. By these examples I believe you'll know how it's used.)

*I pay* - Deanski, Apr 4, 2011

The future subjunctive is no longer used? YAY! I'd just like to take the chance to thank all the native speakers for that. - rabbitwho, Apr 4, 2011

With that, I suddenly felt that someone would make an effort to falsify what I said. So to be safe, there are old texts and/or legal documents that use this tense, but you can be sure it's no longer used in normal, daily conversations. - Deanski, Apr 4, 2011

Answer 3

Por que means why?

Porque means because.

Thats pretty much it pretty simple really

ahahaha not as simple as that :P - dewclaw, Sep 28, 2011

Answer 4

Porqué ...... why

Para qué ...... what for (also what´s the use). Many times this is said with intonation of disapproval. "¿Le vas a dar dinero a ese vagabundo, para qué?" Or with subjunctive "¿Para qué le des dinero a ese vagabundo?"

When used in statement form it usually preceeds an infinitive. "No hay para que levantarte temprano durante las vacaciones."

porqué="why" as in reason or motive You are going to give the vagabond money, (why?) for what reason? - 0074b507, Apr 4, 2011

Julian, would not the para que in the statement also be para qué like qué in an indirect question (question in statement form)? - 0074b507, Apr 4, 2011

Answer 5

It can usually be translated as 'so that' when connecting two parts of a sentence together.

e.g. Voy a comprar un billete de avión para que pueda viajar a España

I'm going to buy a plane ticket so that I can travel to Spain

The only rule in using it is that it's followed by the subjuctive, as you already know. Otherwise, use it as you would in English