Learn Swedish: För att föreningen ska fungera behöver vi en skriftlig version av stadgan. - For the association to work, we need a written version of the statute.

While för att often means "because", when it introduces a goal or requirement it means "in order to" or "for [something] to". Here, it sets up the condition for the goal: in order for the association to work.

Why do we use ska fungera instead of just an infinitive like att fungera?

In English, we say "for the association to work", using an infinitive. Swedish requires a full clause with a subject and a finite verb after för att when expressing "in order for [subject] to". Since it describes a required future state, ska is used, making it literally "In order that the association shall work".

Why is the word order in the main clause behöver vi instead of vi behöver?

This is the V2 (verb-second) rule in action, which is always important to remember when starting sentences with a long clause. The entire introductory subordinate clause För att föreningen ska fungera counts as the first block of information. Therefore, the verb in the main clause (behöver) must take the second position, followed by the subject (vi).

What is the base form of the word stadgan?

The base form is en stadga, which means a statute, charter, or formal rule. Since it is an en-word ending in -a, it takes the definite ending -n to become stadgan (the statute). Its plural would be stadgar.