para poder comprar

Question

Hi in the microquiz there is the following answer;

Carmen estaba haciendo horas extra para poder comprar una cama...

I'm wondering if it is common to use two infinitives together, as in "para poder comprar"?

Thanks

Answer

Hola G,
yes, it is common to find two infinitives. Here in this sentence:

Carmen estaba haciendo horas extra para poder comprar una cama nueva. 
(Carmen was doing overtime so that she could buy a new bed.)

if we had said in English: ... "in order to be able to buy a new bed" , you can also see the two infinitives in the English. In Spanish, it is common to see it with a preposition + modal verb + another infinitive, like the one in the sentence mentioned, or, for example:

Tengo ganas de poder tumbarme en la playa para relajarme.
(I look forward to being able to lie down on the beach to relax)

But it is also common with other verbs, "verbos de percepción", like "ver", "oír"...

Oir cantar a los pájaros por la mañana es muy agradable.
(Listening to the birds singing in the morning is very nice.)

No puedo ver sufrir a mis hijos.
(I can't see my children suffer.)

I hope this helped.
Un saludo
Inma