Breakdown of Tengo el propósito de enfocarme en el trabajo.
de
from / of
tener
to have
el trabajo
work
el propósito
the resolution / the purpose
enfocarse en
to focus on
Questions & Answers about Tengo el propósito de enfocarme en el trabajo.
Why do we use the infinitive enfocarme here instead of a que phrase?
This sentence expresses an intention or resolution, which is a type of volition. Because the person who has the resolution (I) is the exact same person who will focus (I), you must use the infinitive. If you had a resolution for someone else to do something, you would use que plus the subjunctive (for example, Tengo el propósito de que te enfoques).
Why is there a de between propósito and enfocarme?
In Spanish, when a noun like propósito, idea, or tiempo is followed by an infinitive to explain what the noun is about, you connect them with de. You can think of it literally as the resolution "of" focusing.
Why is me attached to the end of enfocar?
The verb enfocarse (to focus oneself) is reflexive. Since the implied subject is "I" (yo), the reflexive pronoun must be me. When a verb is in its infinitive form, object pronouns are attached directly to the end of the word to make one single word: enfocarme.
The English translation says "focus on work". Do we always use en with enfocarse?
Yes! Just like we say "focus on" in English, the Spanish verb enfocarse always pairs with the preposition en. It is a set phrase, so you should avoid using other direct translations of "on" like sobre in this context.
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