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[beltspinner.livejournal.com]

Can someone give me a quick explanation of the word чтобы? Does it have any particular case governance? Need to begin a clause?

thanks

Comments

[freedomcry.livejournal.com]

"so that", "in order that": either with past tense form or the infinitive

скажи ей, чтобы пришла - tell her to come
я старался, чтобы температура не повышалась – I tried to keep the temperature from rising
я позвонил ему, чтобы поздравить – I called to congratulate him
чтобы приготовить борщ, нужна свекла – to make borsht, you need beet

it is also sometimes used as a kind of subjunctive. Compare:
я не слышал, что он уезжает – "I haven't heard that he's leaving" – i.e. he's leaving but nobody's told me
vs.
я не слышал, чтобы он уезжал: ~"I haven't heard that he be leaving" – it's not known whether he's actually leaving or not

[freedomcry.livejournal.com]

уехал or уезжает ("уезжал ли он" would be "if he was going to leave", "if he was in the middle of leaving (when something prevented him)", or "if he used to leave" (i.e. several times)), otherwise, yes. it's more general, while the чтобы construction is more like replying to an allegation (that he's leaving) with an "I don't know".

[russian-bob.livejournal.com]

"in order to" or "to", meaning "in order to"
Right?