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An orchestra for every kid: the infinitive of purpose with to

Learners use the infinitive of purpose to say why people do things in this A2 ESL lesson plan about a free youth orchestra.

Grammar
To + a base verb for reasons (She practices every day to get better.), the same for every person, Why…? To… answers and for + a noun (for fun).
Topic
YOLA, the Los Angeles Philharmonic's youth orchestra program, which gives kids free instruments and lessons, with orchestra vocabulary such as violin, bow, cello and tune.
Activities
A post about the program to read, a talk in a practice room and a voice message to hear, self-checking drills, a chat of Why? questions and open boxes.

What's inside

  1. Chapter 1Tune up!

    • PictureUnlock
    • Spin the wheel and answerSpin the wheelUnlock
    • Study the words: music for every kidVocabularyTry it
    • Look at the pictures and chooseChoose by pictureUnlock

  2. Chapter 2Let's read: music for every kid

    • Look at the photo: kids in an orchestraPictureUnlock
    • Read Nora's postReal-life documentTry it
    • Read and mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock
    • Read again and choose the right answerQuizUnlock

  3. Chapter 3Let's listen: the practice room

    • Listen to Marco and CeliaListeningTry it
    • Transcript, for the teacherUnlock
    • Listen and choose the right answerQuizUnlock
    • Listen to Grandpa's challengeListeningUnlock
    • Transcript, for the teacherUnlock
    • Listen and mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock

  4. Chapter 4Grammar: to learn, to play

    • Study the scheme: to + verbGrammar schemeTry it
    • Choose the correct option: to or for?Choose the optionUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps: to + verbFill in the gapsTry it
    • Fill in the table: join the sentences with toFill in the tableUnlock
    • Choose the correct answerQuizUnlock

  5. Chapter 5Let's talk: why do you do it?

    • Choose the right replies: Nora's music videoChatTry it
    • Open a box and answer: why do you do it?Open the boxUnlock

  6. Chapter 6Homework

    • Match the words and the meaningsMatchUnlock
    • Unscramble the words: music wordsAnagramUnlock
    • Drag the words into the gaps: music wordsDrag and dropUnlock
    • Put the words in the right orderUnjumbleUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps: to + verbFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Sort the words into the correct columns: to or for?Sort into columnsUnlock
    • Drag the words into the gaps: Marco's message to GrandpaDrag and dropUnlock
    • Choose the correct option: Brianna's commentChoose the optionUnlock

29 exercises in 6 chapters. Start a 7-day free trial to open all of them, copy any part into your own lessons, and teach the lesson live.

Orchestra vocabulary

10 words and phrases from the lesson, each with a picture and audio in edio.

+7 more with pictures and audio in the lessonMore words

  • bow
  • cello
  • orchestra
  • music stand
  • sheet music
  • instrument case
  • amphitheater

Grammar: the infinitive of purpose and to or for

Purpose clauses answer Why?, and the simplest one is to + a verb: Kids go there to learn music. At a free youth orchestra in Los Angeles, learners add a reason with to after what someone does, keep the verb in its base form, answer Why…? with just To… and use for before a noun.

Kids go there to learn music.

Say why with to + verb. Why do you practice? – To get better.

What you do, then to + verb

The formula puts the action first and the reason after to: She practices every day to get better. We tune the violin to make the sound right. The part with to answers Why?, so it can stand alone in a reply.

what you dotoverb

Kids go to YOLA to learn music.

She practices every day to get better.

We tune the violin to make the sound right.

The same for every person

Only the first verb changes with the person; to + verb never does: He practices every day to get better. They come to the center to rehearse. After to, no -s and no -ing: to gets and to learning are wrong, and so is for to learn.

to + verb: the same for every person

WhoExample
II go to the center to learn the violin.
youYou need a bow to play the violin.
heHe practices every day to get better.
sheShe tunes her cello to make the sound right.
it (my alarm clock)It rings at six to wake me up.
weWe stop at the diner to eat pie.
theyThey come to the center to rehearse and to record.

to + the base form

After to, use the base form: to learn, to play, to get. No -ing and no -s: to learning ✗, to gets ✗. Never put for before to: for to learn ✗. Answer a Why…? question with just To…: Why do you practice? – To get better.

Why…? To…

A Why question can take a short answer that starts with To: Why do you tune your violin? To make the sound right. Why does she have a camera? To film the trip. Leave out because: Because to film the trip is wrong.

QuestionShort answer
Why do kids go to YOLA?To learn music.
Why do you tune your violin?To make the sound right.
Why did Marco open the case?To take out a violin.
Why does Nora have a camera?To film the trip.

To + verb or for + noun

For gives a reason too, but before a noun: Kids go there for music lessons. I play the violin for fun. Before a base verb, use to, never for: Kids go there to learn music, not for learn.

to + verb

  • Kids go there to learn music.
  • I came to have a lesson.
  • I play the violin to relax.

for + noun

  • Kids go there for music lessons.
  • I came for a lesson.
  • I play the violin for fun.

Common mistakes

  • Kids go there for learn music.

    Kids go there to learn music.

    to + verb, for + noun

  • She practices for to get better.

    She practices to get better.

    no for before to

  • We come here to learning.

    We come here to learn.

    to + the base form

  • Why do you practice? – Because to get better.

    Why do you practice? – To get better.

    answer Why…? with To…

More lessons on this grammar: Gerunds and infinitives lessons and exercises

Try the infinitive of purpose exercises

Try them yourself: these are the same exercises your students do in edio.

More exercises

What's in the lesson

  • 16 auto-checked exercises
  • 4 games
  • 1 real-life document
  • 1 grammar scheme
  • 1 set of word cards
  • 2 audio clips
  • 2 pictures
  • 2 transcripts

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

  • say why people do things with to + verb: Kids go to YOLA to learn music. We tune the violin to make the sound right.
  • keep the base form after to for every person: He practices every day to get better, not to gets or to getting
  • answer Why…? with a short To…: Why do you need a bow? To play the violin.
  • choose to + verb or for + noun: I play the violin to relax. I play the violin for fun.

Lesson 24 closes Music and nights out, the sixth unit of English A2.1 · Then and Now. The unit has already put -ing after love and enjoy (lesson 21) and a base verb after Let's (lesson 23); this lesson adds to + verb for a reason. Lesson 29 moves on to verbs followed by to, such as want, hope and decide. A program with free violins for kids makes Why? easy to answer: they go there to learn music.

Students spin a wheel of questions about music and practice, then learn ten words with pictures and audio, from practice and tune to bow and amphitheater. They read Nora's post about YOLA and the Hollywood Bowl and answer true-or-false and multiple-choice questions, then hear Marco with a violin teacher in a practice room (an AI-voiced dialogue) and Grandpa's voice message with a challenge. The scheme leads into four exercises that check themselves: a choice between to and for, a gap-fill, a table that joins two sentences with to and a quiz. In the speaking chapter, students answer Nora's questions for a music video in a chat, then open boxes that ask why they do things.

Eight homework exercises check themselves: a word match, an anagram and a drag-and-drop of music words, word-order sentences, a to + verb gap-fill, a to-or-for sort, Marco's message to Grandpa and a viewer's comment with gaps.

Grammar:
the infinitive of purpose · to + verb · Why? – To … · to or for
Topic:
YOLA · Los Angeles · orchestras · music lessons · the Hollywood Bowl · Grandpa's Map

Teaching tips

  • Mime an action, then ask why: open an imaginary case, turn a violin's tuning knobs, hold up a phone, and students answer with To take out the violin, To make the sound right or To take a photo.
  • Before the post, ask who has learned an instrument and why, then let students find the reason the LA Phil started YOLA: to bring music to young people.
  • Sort reasons in two columns on the board, to + verb and for + noun. Call out relax, fun, get better and a snack; students name the column and say a sentence with each.
  • Turn the phone box into a race: in thirty seconds, each student gives as many reasons as possible with to: I use my phone to call my mom, to take photos and to listen to music.

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The whole course: English A2.1 · Then and Now

32 lessons for adults at A2 in simple American English, from the past simple to going to, should and might. Eight units tell stories of journeys, American firsts, food, places, sports, music, neighbors and dreams. Pictures and definitions replace translations, and the practice exercises check themselves.See the course

  1. Unit 1 Amazing journeys

    the past simple, regular and irregular verbs, negatives, prepositions of movement

    1. Lesson 1Around the world in 72 daysThe past simple of regular verbs
    2. Lesson 2The first drive across AmericaIrregular verbs in the past simple
    3. Lesson 3Get your kicks on Route 66Past simple negatives with didn't
    4. Lesson 4She walked 2,000 miles in sneakersPrepositions of movement

  2. Unit 2 American firsts

    was and were, past questions and short answers, ago and in, could for past ability

    1. Lesson 5The first American woman in spaceWas, were, there was and there were
    2. Lesson 6A real bug in the computerPast simple questions with did
    3. Lesson 7“Mr. Watson, come here”Wh- questions in the past simple
    4. Lesson 8Twelve seconds in the airCould and couldn't for past ability

  3. Unit 3 American food

    countable and uncountable nouns, comparatives, ordering food, a few and a little

    1. Lesson 9The first chocolate chip cookieCountable and uncountable nouns in a recipe
    2. Lesson 10Is a jalapeño hotter than a habanero?Comparatives of short adjectives
    3. Lesson 11Two eggs, sunny side up!Offers and orders with would like
    4. Lesson 12Cooking for twenty on ThanksgivingA few, a little and a lot of

  4. Unit 4 City or country?

    comparatives with more and less, superlatives, as … as, too and enough

    1. Lesson 13The island with no carsComparatives with more and less, plus better, worse and farther
    2. Lesson 14America's extremesSuperlatives with the + -est, the most and the least
    3. Lesson 15San Francisco or Yosemite? You choose!As … as for the same, not as … as for less
    4. Lesson 16A park on an old railroadToo, enough and not … enough

  5. Unit 5 Game on

    play, go and do with sports, going to, adverbs of manner, reflexive pronouns

    1. Lesson 17Basketball started with peach baskets?Play, go and do with sports
    2. Lesson 18What's going to happen at LA 2028?Be going to for plans and predictions
    3. Lesson 19Pickleball: a game from a backyardAdverbs of manner
    4. Lesson 20Be brave and tryReflexive pronouns and each other

  6. Unit 6 Music and nights out

    love, enjoy and hate + -ing, the present continuous for plans, suggestions, to for purpose

    1. Lesson 21Where jazz was bornGerunds after love, like, enjoy, hate and don't mind
    2. Lesson 22Music on every streetThe present continuous for future arrangements
    3. Lesson 23A night on BroadwaySuggestions with Let's, Why don't we and How about
    4. Lesson 24 · you're hereAn orchestra for every kidThe infinitive of purpose and to or for

  7. Unit 7 Neighbors and community

    much and many, should, something and everyone, because and so

    1. Lesson 25Everybody cleans up!Much and many with nouns you can and can't count
    2. Lesson 26Good neighbors shovel snowShould and shouldn't + the base verb
    3. Lesson 27Take a book, leave a bookIndefinite pronouns with some-, any-, no- and every-
    4. Lesson 28A bench for making friendsBecause for reasons, so for results

  8. Unit 8 Plans and dreams

    verb + to, the present continuous vs going to, might, when, before and after

    1. Lesson 29Never give up: from farm fields to spaceVerb + to + the base form
    2. Lesson 30Across America by trainGoing to and the present continuous for the future
    3. Lesson 31Open in the year 6939Might and might not for possibility
    4. Lesson 32A college graduate at 95Time clauses with when, before and after

Questions about this lesson

What is the infinitive of purpose?
The infinitive of purpose is to + a base verb that says why someone does something: Kids go there to learn music. She practices every day to get better. It comes after the action and never changes with the person. On its own, it can answer a Why question: Why do you tune your violin? To make the sound right.
When do you use "to" and when do you use "for"?
To give a reason, use to before a verb and for before a noun: I play the violin to relax. I play the violin for fun. The pair Kids go there to learn music and Kids go there for music lessons gives one reason in two ways. With for, the reason is a thing: for a snack, for a walk, for pie.
Can you answer a "Why" question with "To…"?
Yes, a Why question can take a short To + verb answer: Why do you need a bow? To play the violin. Why do people go to the Hollywood Bowl? To hear music outside. Don't put because in front of it: Because to get better is wrong. In the chat of An orchestra for every kid on edio.ai, the final answer students pick is To learn English, of course!
What is a purpose clause?
A purpose clause tells why someone does something, and the simplest kind is to + verb: She tunes her cello to make the sound right. They come to the center to rehearse. More formal English uses in order to (She practices in order to get better), and so that adds a whole clause: Kids go there so that they can learn music.
Is it "to learn" or "to learning"?
To learn is right: after to, a verb keeps its base form, with no -ing and no -s. We come here to learn, not to learning; He practices to get better, not to gets. For can't replace to before a verb either, so for learn and for to learn are both wrong. The gap-fill on this page, from An orchestra for every kid on edio.ai, asks for to + verb in eight sentences.
What do you call orchestra instruments like the violin and cello?
Instruments like the violin and the cello are string instruments, and players pull a bow across them. A violin is a small wooden instrument with four strings, and a cello is a big string instrument you play sitting down. Before playing, musicians tune them to make the sound just right. They read sheet music on a music stand and carry each instrument in a hard instrument case.
How do I teach the infinitive of purpose to A2 students?
Start from Why? questions about real life: Why do you have a phone? Why do people go to the gym? Collect short answers with To…, then join each one to its action: I go to the gym to exercise. Keep the verb after to in its base form, and set for + a noun beside it once the pattern is easy: I go to the gym for a class.
What's a good game for practicing to or for?
A good one is a box of Why? prompts with to or for: each box asks a question such as Why do people go to concerts? or Do you play an instrument? Why?, and the student answers with to + verb or for + noun: I play the guitar for fun. A spin-the-wheel warm-up asks Do you listen to music to relax? Both games come from An orchestra for every kid on edio.ai.
How do you practice the infinitive of purpose one-to-one?
Trade Why? questions about each other's day: Why did you get up early? To catch the bus. Why do you use your phone? To call my family. The student answers first with just To…, then in a full sentence. For practice alone, the chat in the A2 lesson An orchestra for every kid on edio.ai asks interview questions for a music video, and each reply is checked.
What's good homework for practicing the infinitive of purpose?
Gap-fills and word-order drills built on everyday reasons make good homework: I go to the gym to exercise after work. She called her grandma to say happy birthday. A sort of reasons into to + verb and for + noun (relax or a snack?) adds the contrast, and every answer is checked automatically. An orchestra for every kid on edio.ai ends with eight self-checking homework exercises.
Are there interactive exercises for the infinitive of purpose?
Yes: gap-fills and chats that check every reason give instant feedback. This page plays four parts of An orchestra for every kid, an A2 lesson on edio.ai, without an account: Nora's post about a free youth orchestra, a dialogue between Marco and a violin teacher in a practice room, a gap-fill that asks for to + verb, and a chat in which students answer Nora's questions for a music video. The other drills need an account.
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