Breakdown of Han trycker på bröstkorgen för att cirkulationen ska starta.
han
he
ska
will
på
on / at / for (wait for) / in (believe in)
för
for, to
att
that
starta
to start (a machine, engine, business)
trycka
to press
bröstkorgen
the chest (anatomy)
cirkulationen
the circulation
Questions & Answers about Han trycker på bröstkorgen för att cirkulationen ska starta.
Why does this sentence use för att cirkulationen ska starta instead of just för att starta cirkulationen?
Both are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different focuses. Using the infinitive phrase för att starta cirkulationen implies the main subject (he) is doing the starting directly. By using a full subordinate clause (för att + subject + ska + verb), you explicitly make cirkulationen the subject of the second action. This pattern is strictly required whenever the "in order to" action involves a different subject than the main clause.
Why do we need the word ska in the second part of the sentence?
When för att (in order to) introduces a full subordinate clause to express purpose, Swedish generally requires a modal verb like ska (will/shall) or skulle (would, for past tense). It shows that the action is an intended future goal rather than a statement of fact.
What are the parts of the compound word bröstkorgen?
It is made up of bröst (breast/chest) and korgen (the basket, from en korg). So the Swedish word for the ribcage or thorax literally translates to "the chest basket"!
Could I use så att instead of för att in this sentence?
Yes, and it would sound very natural. When introducing a subordinate clause with a new subject, så att (so that) and för att (in order that) are often interchangeable. However, för att puts a bit more emphasis on the active intention behind his pressing, whereas så att can sometimes just describe the result.
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