To explain the reason or purpose behind an action—such as saying "I went in order to buy" or "He looked to take"—Arabic uses the prefix لـ. This prefix attaches directly to the beginning of the present tense verb that describes the intended action.
| I went to the market to buy tomatoes and onions. | ذهبت إلى السوق لأشتري الطماطم والبصل.dhahabtu ilâ assûqi li'ashtariya attamâtima walbasala |
| The boy took the cart to help his mother. | أخذ الولد العربة ليساعد أمه.akhadha al-waladu al-arabata liyusâ'ida ummahu |
لـ and the Subjunctive Mood
Just like the particle أن, the prefix لـ changes the present tense verb it attaches to into the subjunctive mood (المضارع المنصوب).
For singular subjects, the verb's final short vowel changes to a Fatha (a). The main action in the sentence is conjugated normally; only the verb attached to لـ takes the subjunctive ending.
| He is looking at the shelf to take the olives. | ينظر إلى الرف ليأخذ الزيتون.yanzhuru ilâ ar-raffi liya'khudha az-zaytûn |
| Please, I need the cashier to pay the bill. | من فضلك، أحتاج إلى المحاسب لأدفع الحساب.min fadlika, ahtâju ilâ al-muhâsibi li'adfa'a al-hisâb |
| I want to take the cart to put the bags in it. | أريد أن آخذ العربة لأضع الأكياس فيها.urîdu an âkhudha al'arabata li'ada'a al'akyâsa fîhâ |
The Plural Subjunctive
When the verb following لـ is plural (such as "they"), the subjunctive mood drops the final ن from the standard present tense conjugation and adds an ا in its place.
| They are in the aisle to buy tomatoes. | هم في الممر ليشتروا الطماطم.hum fi al-mamarri liyashtaru at-tamatima |
Answering "Why?"
Because لـ expresses purpose, it is the standard way to answer questions that begin with "Why?" (لماذا). You can use the prefixed verb all by itself as a complete answer.
| Why are you taking this big cart? To carry the vegetables. | لماذا تأخذ هذه العربة الكبيرة؟ لأحمل الخضار.limâdhâ ta'khudhu hâdhihi al-'arabata al-kabîrata? li'ahmila al-khudâra. |
