{"id":33051,"date":"2015-03-16T11:27:42","date_gmt":"2015-03-16T11:27:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.eoisabi.org\/?p=33051"},"modified":"2026-04-12T18:45:34","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T18:45:34","slug":"purpose-clauses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/englishroam.com\/?p=33051","title":{"rendered":"Purpose & Result + Relative clauses"},"content":{"rendered":"
\u00a4 \u00a0FOR + -ing \u00a0 versus \u00a0TO-infinitive<\/a>\u00a0\u2190\"\"<\/h6>\n
\u00a4 \u00a0Clauses of purpose<\/strong><\/h5>\n

We use clauses of purpose to talk about people\u2019s purposes, the reasons why they do things.<\/p>\n

\u21d2\u00a0[quiz 01]<\/a>\u00a0\u21d4 [quiz 02]<\/a>\u21d0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2297\u00a0 The infinitive of purpose<\/b><\/p>\n

The infinitive of purpose can only be used when the subject of the main clause and the subject of the purpose clause are the same:<\/span><\/p>\n

– Why did you get up so early? \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/em>– To go<\/b> jogging.<\/em><\/p>\n

–\u00a0Why are you going to the chemist\u2019s?<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 – To buy<\/strong> some cough medicine.<\/p>\n

\u2297 \u00a0<\/strong> Clauses of purpose with \u201cso that\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n

We use \u00a0‘so that…’<\/b><\/p>\n

a) \u00a0When the subject of the main clause is different<\/span> from the subject of the purpose clause:<\/p>\n

\u00abThe presenter<\/span> spoke very slowly and clearly so that\/in order that <\/strong>everybody<\/span> could\/would\u00a0understand him.\u00bb<\/em> ( the presenter \u2013 everybody = two different subjects)
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00abJenny gave Mark some money so that he<\/b> could buy some new shoes.\u00bb<\/em><\/p>\n

In informal English \u201cso\u201d<\/strong> is commonly used instead of \u201cso that\/in order that\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00abHe wants a big car so<\/strong> he can impress his friend.\u00bb\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

b) \u00a0With \u00a0 \u201ccan\u201d<\/em> and \u201ccould\u201d<\/em> \u00a0 (so that \u00a0\u2026 \u00a0can\/can\u2019t\/could\/couldn\u2019t\u2026):<\/p>\n

\u00abHe\u2019s learning German so that he can<\/b> work in Germany. \u00ab<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00abThe bank robbers tied up the manager so that he couldn\u2019t<\/b> escape.\u00bb<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00abThat pop star has a high wall around his house so that photographers can\u2019t<\/b> get in. \u00ab<\/em><\/p>\n

c) When the purpose clause is negative<\/span> \u00a0 (so that \u2026 won\u2019t\/wouldn\u2019t\u2026)<\/p>\n

\u00abI got there early so that I wouldn\u2019t<\/b> have to stand.\u00bb<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00abThey\u2019re staying in a hotel next summer so that they won\u2019t<\/b> have to cook.\u00bb<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2295\u00a0 Tenses used in purpose clauses with \u201cso that\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n

When we use a present or future tense in the main clause, we use so that \u2026\u2026will\/won\u2019t\/can\/can\u2019t <\/b>in the purpose clause.<\/p>\n

\u00abI have lent Richard \u20ac300\u00a0so that he can buy\/will be able to buy\u00a0<\/b>a nice winter coat.\u00bb<\/em><\/p>\n

With a past tense in the main clause, we use so that \u00a0\u2026\u2026 \u00a0could<\/b>(n\u2019t<\/b>)\/would<\/b>(n\u2019t<\/b>) in the purpose clause.<\/p>\n

\u00abI lent Richard \u20ac300 so that he could buy\/would be able to buy<\/b> a nice winter coat.\u00bb\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

\u2295\u00a0 Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00abShe worked hard so that\/in order that<\/strong> she would pass all her examinations before the end\u00a0of the semester.\u00bb<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0(the subject is the same:\u00a0\u00a0she<\/span><\/em>)<\/p>\n

With the same subject the infinitive construction is more common than the \u201cso that\/in\u00a0order that\u201d<\/em> construction.<\/p>\n

\u00abShe worked hard in order to\/so as to<\/strong> pass all her examinations before the end of the\u00a0semester.\u00bb\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

In spoken English \u201cto\u201d<\/em> is more common than \u201cin order to\/so as to\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00abWe have to hurry to<\/strong> get there before the beginning of the meeting\u00bb.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

However, \u201cto\u201d<\/em> cannot be used with a negative.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00abHe spoke in a low voice in order\/so as<\/strong> not<\/strong> to disturb us.\u00bb<\/em><\/p>\n

(Not: *’He spoke in a low voice not to disturb us<\/em>‘)<\/p>\n

But you can always use the infinitive construction\u00a0with the verb \u00abAVOID<\/strong>\u00ab:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00abHe set off early to <\/strong>avoid driving at night.\u00bb<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cnot to\u201d<\/strong> can be used to express alternatives:<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00abI went to the conference not to give a paper but to present a poster.\u00bb\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00f7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00f7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00f7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00f7<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u221e\u00a0 \u00a0Purpose vs Cause\/Effect . . .\u00a0\u00a0\u21d0<\/a><\/strong><\/h6>\n

\u00f7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00f7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00f7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00f7<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a4 \u00a0Relative Clauses …\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u21d2\"relative-clauses\"<\/a><\/h4>\n

In this overview of relative clauses, Alex\u00a0looks at identifying<\/em> (or ‘restrictive’)<\/em> and non-identifying<\/em> (or ‘non-restrictive’<\/em>) clauses, relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that<\/strong>) and how to use commas<\/em> when using relative pronouns in your writing \u00a0\u2193<\/p>\n