To show purpose, that’s why!

Posted by Pak Guru on January 9th, 2017 | 0 comments | function, grammar, IELTS, speaking, untuk, writing

I would like to study abroad one more time, especially for achieving a doctoral degree.

 This is an Indonesian translation for ‘untuk‘ as a way to explain purpose.
In English the answer to this kind of ‘why‘ question is nearly always ‘to + V1‘:

• I would like to study abroad one more time, especially to achieve a doctoral degree.

Questions that focus on purpose include:

• Why do you want to..?
• Why did you..?
• What did you (do that) for?

The answers will always contain ‘to + v1..’ – what is referred to as ‘the infinitive of purpose‘.
‘For + noun‘ is used to explain some kind of function:

A: What’s that machine for?
B: It’s for pounding rice. (function)
A. Oh. I see. But why use a machine?
B. Maybe to save time. (purpose)
A. Ah. Right.

 Indonesians – next time you want to translate ‘untuk‘, stop and think. Are you talking about function or purpose?