Italian Grammar Bank
ITALIAN FINAL CLAUSES
In Italian, proposizioni finali (final clauses) express purpose, intention, or goal—that is, they indicate the reason why an action is performed.
These clauses typically answer the question “Why?” or “For what purpose?”
INTRODUCTION
Final clauses in Italian always depend on a main clause and are introduced by specific conjunctions such as:
| Perché | so that |
| Affinché | so that, in order that |
| Per | in order to |
| A fine di | with the aim of |
| Col fine di | with the goal of |
The verb in the final clause can appear in different moods and tenses, depending on the level of formality and the subject of the two clauses.
| Main Clause | Final Clause (Proposizione Finale) |
| Action or event | Purpose or goal of the action |
Depending on the conjunction used, the verb in the final clause is generally in the subjunctive (congiuntivo) when the subject of the two clauses is different. If the subject is the same, the infinitive is often used.
Table of Final Clauses
| TYPE | Conjunction | Verb Form | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Different subject | perché, affinché | congiuntivo | Ti spiego la grammatica perché tu possa capirla meglio. |
| Same subject | per | infinito | Studio l’italiano per trasferirmi in Italia. |
| Formal (different subject) | a fine di, col fine di | infinito | Ha scritto un libro a fine di condividere la sua esperienza. |
CONJUNCTIONS USED IN FINAL CLAUSES
Perché / Affinché
When the subject of the main clause and the final clause are different, we use perché or affinché followed by the subjunctive.
PATTERN
Perché / Affinché + Subjunctive
| Ti spiego la grammatica perché tu possa capirla meglio. | I explain the grammar so that you can understand it better. |
| Ha lavorato sodo affinché la sua famiglia vivesse meglio. | He worked hard so that his family could live better. |
View More Examples:
| Studio l’italiano perché io possa trasferirmi in Italia. | I study Italian so that I can move to Italy. |
| Mi alzo presto affinché io riesca a finire il lavoro in tempo. | I wake up early so that I manage to finish work on time. |
| Ha parlato lentamente perché tutti lo capissero. | He spoke slowly so that everyone could understand him. |
When the subject is the same
If the subject of the main and final clause is the same, we use per followed by the infinitive instead of the subjunctive.
PATTERN
Per + Infinitive
| Studio l’italiano per trasferirmi in Italia. | I study Italian to move to Italy. |
| Si è allenato molto per vincere la gara. | He trained a lot to win the race. |
View More Examples:
| Ho lavorato sodo per comprare una casa. | I worked hard to buy a house. |
| Sono venuto qui per aiutarti. | I came here to help you. |
| Hanno fatto una pausa per riposarsi. | They took a break to rest. |
Formal
In more formal contexts, a fine di and col fine di are used with the infinitive.
PATTERN
A fine di / Col fine di + Infinitive
| Ha scritto un libro a fine di condividere la sua esperienza. | He wrote a book in order to share his experience. |
| Abbiamo fatto una riunione col fine di risolvere il problema. | We held a meeting in order to solve the problem. |
View More Examples:
| Hanno preso provvedimenti a fine di proteggere l’ambiente. | They took measures to protect the environment. |
| Studia molto col fine di ottenere buoni voti. | He studies a lot to get good grades. |
| L’azienda ha investito molto a fine di migliorare i servizi. | The company invested a lot to improve the services. |
Subjunctive Tenses in Final Clauses
| Main Clause (Indicative) | Final Clause (Subjunctive) | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present | Present Subjunctive |
Studio molto perché tu capisca meglio.
(I study a lot so that you understand better.) |
| Past | Imperfect Subjunctive |
Ho parlato lentamente perché tu capissi.
(I spoke slowly so that you understood.) |
| Past | Past Subjunctive |
Hanno lavorato sodo perché il progetto fosse completato in tempo.
(They worked hard so that the project was completed on time.) |
PURPOSE vs. CAUSE
It’s important to distinguish final clauses (purpose) from causal clauses (reason).
| Final Clause (Purpose – Goal) | Causal Clause (Reason – Explanation) |
|---|---|
|
Studio perché io possa superare l’esame.
(I study so that I can pass the exam.) |
Studio perché domani ho un esame.
(I study because I have an exam tomorrow.) |
|
L’ho detto affinché tutti sapessero la verità.
(I said it so that everyone knew the truth.) |
L’ho detto perché era necessario.
(I said it because it was necessary.) |
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FAQs
What is the purpose of a final clause in Italian?
Final clauses (proposizioni finali) express the purpose or goal of the action in the main clause — essentially answering the question “why?” or “for what purpose?”
Which conjunctions are commonly used to introduce final clauses?
The most common conjunctions are “perché”, “affinché”, “cosicché”, and “in modo che”.
What verb mood is typically used in Italian final clauses?
Final clauses almost always require the subjunctive mood, especially when there are two different subjects in the main and subordinate clauses.
Can final clauses ever use the infinitive instead of the subjunctive?
Yes, when the subject of both clauses is the same, the infinitive (e.g. per studiare) is used instead of a subjunctive clause.
Are final clauses the same as causal clauses?
No — final clauses explain the intended result or purpose, while causal clauses explain the reason or cause behind an action.
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