French for Purpose: Using 'pour' with Nouns and Infinitives
Learn to express purpose in French with pour + noun or infinitive, as in 'Ce couteau est pour couper le pain,' and see how it differs from other purpose structures.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In French, one of the most common ways to express what something is used for is the preposition pour followed by a noun or an infinitive. This pattern answers the question 'what is it for?' and is essential for talking about tools, objects, and intentions. In this lesson you will learn to build sentences like 'Cette cuillère est pour la soupe' and 'Ce couteau est pour couper le pain,' and you will see how pour differs from other purpose expressions such as afin de and pour que.
By the end, you can…
- ask and answer what an object is used for using pour + noun or infinitive.
- distinguish between pour + infinitive and other purpose structures in simple sentences.
- describe the purpose of everyday objects in French with correct word order and articles.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Ce couteau est pour couper le pain.
This knife is for cutting bread.
suh koo-toh eh poor koo-pay luh pan
Use pour + infinitive to state the purpose of a specific object. The infinitive couper is invariable.
Cette cuillère est pour la soupe.
This spoon is for the soup.
set kwee-yair eh poor lah soop
Pour + noun works when the purpose is a thing rather than an action. The article la stays with the noun.
C'est pour offrir à ma sœur.
It's for giving to my sister.
seh poor oh-freer ah mah sur
Pour + infinitive can express intention, not just object function. Offrir is the infinitive 'to give (a gift).'
À quoi ça sert ? — Ça sert à ouvrir les bouteilles.
What is it for? — It's for opening bottles.
ah kwah sah sair? sah sair ah oo-vreer lay boo-tay
The verb servir à + infinitive is another common way to ask and answer about purpose. Note the preposition à, not pour.
Je prends ce sac pour le voyage.
I'm taking this bag for the trip.
zhuh prahn suh sak poor luh vwah-yazh
Pour + noun can also express the intended occasion or destination, not only physical function.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is: subject + être + pour + infinitive or noun. Examples: 'Ce stylo est pour écrire.' (This pen is for writing.) 'Cette boîte est pour les photos.' (This box is for the photos.) When you use an infinitive after pour, it never changes: 'Ces ciseaux sont pour couper.' (These scissors are for cutting.) The noun after pour keeps its article: 'C'est pour le jardin.' (It's for the garden.)
When to use it
Use pour + infinitive when you name an action as the purpose: 'Cette clé est pour ouvrir la porte.' Use pour + noun when you name a thing or occasion: 'Ce verre est pour l'eau.' (This glass is for water.) 'Je réserve une table pour deux.' (I'm booking a table for two.) For a person, use pour + stressed pronoun: 'C'est pour moi.' (It's for me.) Avoid using pour + que + subjunctive at this level; that structure is for clauses with different subjects, e.g. 'pour que tu comprennes' (so that you understand).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
À quoi sert ce petit couteau ?
What is this small knife for?ah kwah sair suh puh-tee koo-tohIl est pour couper les légumes.
It's for cutting vegetables.eel eh poor koo-pay lay lay-goomEt cette grande cuillère, c'est pour la soupe ?
And this large spoon, is it for the soup?eh set grahnd kwee-yair, seh poor lah soopOui, c'est pour la soupe. Le couteau, c'est pour le pain.
Yes, it's for the soup. The knife is for the bread.wee, seh poor lah soop. luh koo-toh, seh poor luh panA little context goes a long way
In everyday French, pour + infinitive is neutral and widely used in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Quebec. In more formal writing, afin de + infinitive is common, but it is not typical in casual speech. The structure itself is the same across these regions; only pronunciation and intonation vary slightly from one speaker to another.
One thing to watch for
Using 'pour' with a conjugated verb, as in 'Ce couteau est pour je coupe le pain.'
Try this instead: After pour, use the infinitive, not a conjugated verb: 'Ce couteau est pour couper le pain.' If you need a full clause with a different subject, use pour que + subjunctive: 'Je te prête ce couteau pour que tu coupes le pain.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'This key is for opening the door' in French?
Show a sample answer
Cette clé est pour ouvrir la porte.
Pour is followed by the infinitive ouvrir. 'Cette clé sert à ouvrir la porte' is also correct and common.
2Translate: 'This glass is for water.'
Show a sample answer
Ce verre est pour l'eau.
Pour + noun l'eau. The article is required. 'Ce verre sert à l'eau' is not idiomatic; servir à is normally followed by an infinitive, as in 'Ce verre sert à boire.'
3Ask 'What is this bag for?' in French.
Show a sample answer
À quoi sert ce sac ?
À quoi sert + noun is the standard question. 'C'est pour quoi, ce sac ?' is more informal but also acceptable.
Use pour + infinitive for actions and pour + noun for things or occasions. Remember that the infinitive never changes, and keep the article with the noun.
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