afin de
B2in order to, so as to
Formal way to express purpose or goal. More elegant and formal than 'pour'. 'Afin de' is followed by infinitive, 'afin que' is followed by subjunctive.
Usage
Followed by an infinitive verb to express purpose. Use 'afin que' + subjunctive when the subject changes. Common in formal writing.
Examples
Je me lève tôt afin de faire du sport.
I wake up early in order to exercise.
Context: Expressing purpose
Elle étudie beaucoup afin de réussir ses examens.
She studies a lot so as to pass her exams.
Context: Goal-oriented action
Nous travaillons ensemble afin de terminer plus vite.
We work together in order to finish faster.
Context: Collaborative purpose
Synonyms & Alternatives
Important Notes
More formal than 'pour'. Common in business writing and formal contexts. Shows sophisticated language use.