Purpose and Wishes with 'чтобы' — Russian Grammar

(ChtóbyČtóby) introduces a purpose - in order to, so that - and what someone wants another person to do. What follows it depends on whether the subject stays the same.

Purpose, Same Subject: что́бы (chtóby) + Infinitive

When the person doing both actions is the same, (chtóbyčtóby) is followed by the infinitive.

Я иду́ в магази́н, что́бы купи́ть хлеб.
Ya idú v magazín, chtóby kupít' khleb.Ja idú v magazín, čtóby kupítʹ xleb.
I'm going to the store to buy bread.
Я учу́ ру́сский, что́бы чита́ть кни́ги.
Ya uchú rússkiy, chtóby chitát' knígi.Ja učú rússkij, čtóby čitátʹ knígi.
I'm learning Russian to read books.

After verbs of motion, (chtóbyčtóby) is often left out and the infinitive is used alone.

Мне ну́жно сходи́ть в магази́н купи́ть хлеб.
Mne núzhno skhodít' v magazín kupít' khleb.Mne núžno sxodítʹ v magazín kupítʹ xleb.
I need to go to the store to buy bread.

Purpose, Different Subject: что́бы (chtóby) + Past Tense

When the second action is done by someone else, (chtóbyčtóby) is followed by a past-tense verb, whatever the actual time.

Я говорю́ ме́дленно, что́бы ты по́нял.
Ya govoryú médlenno, chtóby ty pónyal.Ja govorjú médlenno, čtóby ty pónjal.
I'm speaking slowly so that you understand.

Wishes and Requests

After (khotét'xotétʹ) (to want), (prosít'prosítʹ) (to ask) and similar verbs, a wish about another person uses (chtóbyčtóby) with the past tense. English uses the infinitive: I want you to come.

Я хочу́, что́бы ты пришёл.
Ya khochú, chtóby ty prishól.Ja xočú, čtóby ty prišól.
I want you to come.
Ма́ма хо́чет, что́бы я позвони́л.
Máma khóchet, chtóby ya pozvoníl.Máma xóčet, čtóby ja pozvoníl.
Mom wants me to call.

When the person wanting and the person doing are the same, there is no (chtóbyčtóby): (Ya khochú priytíJa xočú prijtí) (I want to come).

The Verb After что́бы (chtóby)

The past-tense form after (chtóbyčtóby) is the same as the conditional with (by), which is part of the word.

Скажи́ ему́, что́бы он позвони́л.
Skazhí yemú, chtóby on pozvoníl.Skaží jemú, čtóby on pozvoníl.
Tell him to call.

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