Word order when using the "Präteritum" of a modal verb (können) with the "Präsens" of another verb (haben) in a subordinating conjunction?

Question

I am trying to write "..., so that he could have a car and other niceties" and I have it translated to "..., damit er ein Auto und andere Annehmlichkeiten haben konnte."

I am getting tripped up with word order because of the combination of the "Präteritum" form of "können" and the "Präsens" of "haben" in a subordinate clause.

Answer 1

In a main clause the modal verb is finite and is put in second position: Er konnte ein Auto und andere Annehmlichkeiten haben. Everything is the same in a subordinate clause except that the finite verb is placed at the end: ... damit er ein Auto und andere Annehmlichkeiten haben konnte. Part of your premise is wrong; haben is in the infinitive, and so is not present, past, or any other tense.