B2-25 · Express a purpose in three ways
Fair trade
Choose between damit clauses, um ... zu infinitives and formal zwecks phrases in a fictional cooperative's production plans.
About 5 minutes to read · 13 quiz questions
01
A purpose with its own subject
Damit introduces a purpose and allows a different subject from the main clause. In this invented cooperative, buyers share information so producers can plan. The finite verb goes to the end of the damit-clause.
Die Käufer bestellen früh, damit die Erzeuger besser planen können.
The buyers order early so that the producers can plan better.
Die Genossenschaft veröffentlicht die Preise, damit jeder sie vergleichen kann.
The cooperative publishes the prices so that everyone can compare them.
Eva erklärt das Verfahren, damit die Mitglieder es verstehen.
Eva explains the procedure so that the members understand it.
Die Firma übersetzt den Vertrag, damit die Produzentin ihn lesen kann.
The company translates the contract so that the producer can read it.
Die Genossenschaft means cooperative, die Produktion production and der Erzeuger producer. A stated purpose describes an intention, not proof that the desired result happened.
02
The same person does both actions
Use um ... zu when the understood subject of the purpose is the same as the main-clause subject. Die Genossenschaft spart, um eine Maschine zu kaufen means that the cooperative saves and will buy the machine.
Die Genossenschaft spart, um eine Maschine zu kaufen.
The cooperative saves in order to buy a machine.
Eva reist zur Fabrik, um die Produktion zu prüfen.
Eva travels to the factory to inspect production.
Die Mitglieder treffen sich, um Vertrauen aufzubauen.
The members meet to build trust.
Wir dokumentieren die Kosten, um die Preise zu erklären.
We document costs to explain the prices.
Damit is also possible with the same subject, but um ... zu avoids repeating it. A separable verb inserts zu after its prefix, as in aufzubauen.
03
A formal noun phrase with zwecks
Zwecks means for the purpose of and takes a genitive noun phrase. It is common in formal or administrative wording. Compare um die Ware zu prüfen with zwecks Prüfung der Ware.
Zwecks eines besseren Überblicks werden die Kosten aufgelistet.
For the purpose of gaining a better overview, the costs are listed.
Die Unterlagen werden zwecks der geplanten Kontrolle gesammelt.
The documents are collected for the planned inspection.
Zwecks des direkten Austauschs lädt Eva die Mitglieder ein.
For the purpose of direct exchange, Eva invites the members.
Zwecks weiterer Prüfungen bleibt die Ware im Lager.
For further inspections, the goods remain in the warehouse.
Nominal wording can be compact but sound impersonal. Use it when the register fits. Genitive articles and adjective endings still matter: zwecks eines besseren Überblicks.
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