I went to the shop to...

Use 'to' + base verb after verbs of movement (go, come, went) and after phrases that describe travel or movement to say why someone went somewhere. This structure states the purpose of the action.

• Form: Subject + went + to + place + to + base verb (infinitive without to-marked as part of the verb).
• Use it to explain why you went to a place: I went to the shop to buy batteries.
• More formal option: use 'in order to' before the base verb for emphasis: I went to the shop in order to buy batteries.

This lesson focuses on purpose clauses with 'to' after verbs of movement.

Remember the main points when you use this structure:

• After verbs of movement (go, come, went), use 'to' + base verb to show why someone moved somewhere.
• Use the base (bare) infinitive after 'to' in this structure: to buy, to pick up, to return.
• If the purpose is a noun, use 'for' + noun instead: I went to the shop for replacement paper.

Use 'in order to' for more formal emphasis — it does not change the verb form.

Watch for these universal errors when forming purpose clauses:

• Using a gerund after 'to' by mistake: incorrect: 'to buying' — correct: 'to buy'.
• Confusing 'to' as a preposition with 'to' as part of the infinitive (the structure needs the base verb after it).
• Using 'for' + verb instead of 'for' + noun (incorrect: 'for buy' — correct: 'to buy' or 'for supplies').
• Dropping the verb after 'to': avoid 'I went to the shop to.' with no verb following.

Check verb form: after 'to' in purpose clauses you must use the base verb (infinitive form).