Purpose Clauses: rom + Subjunctive
Purpose clauses with rom + subjunctive (and emphatic imistvis rom) - the future is banned in purpose contexts.
I can say why I do things using purpose clauses with the subjunctive.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
ადრე ავდექი, რომ მატარებელზე არ დამეგვიანა.
I got up early so as not to be late for the train.
ვმუშაობ იმისთვის, რომ ზაფხულში ვიმოგზაურო.
I work in order to travel in summer.
დამირეკე, რომ ვიცოდე, როდის მოხვალ.
Call me so that I know when you are coming.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
In order to
Purpose takes რომ + the subjunctive (optative) - never the future: ადრე ავდექი, რომ არ დამეგვიანა (I got up early so as not to be late). For emphasis: იმისთვის, რომ... (in order to). The same rom that means 'that' after speech verbs becomes a purpose marker the moment a subjunctive follows.
Future after purpose rom (*rom ar davagviandebi) and confusing purpose rom with complement rom - the mood is the tell.
Common Error Patterns
Future indicative in purpose clauses (*rom ts'aval) instead of the subjunctive
Purpose-slot drills: rom ___ filled with optative forms only.
ადრე ავდექი, რომ მატარებელზე არ დამეგვიანა.
I got up early so as not to be late for the train.
Purpose rom + subjunctive - the negative purpose uses ar inside the clause.
ვმუშაობ იმისთვის, რომ ზაფხულში ვიმოგზაურო.
I work in order to travel in summer.
imistvis rom is the emphatic 'in order to'; the verb stays subjunctive: vimogzauro.
დამირეკე, რომ ვიცოდე, როდის მოხვალ.
Call me so that I know when you are coming.
Different subjects across clauses are fine: you call - I know (vitsode).
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises