Words of Contrast and Purpose

To contrast something is to compare two things in order to show the differences between them. A purpose is the intention, aim or function of something; the thing that something is supposed to achieve.

In this lesson, we will go through a number of words that are used to form phrases of contrast and purpose.

They include:

Conjunctions of Contrast

All of these words are commonly used. Although is the most common, though is more common is spoken English, and even though expresses a bigger or more surprising contrast.

All of them mean almost the exact same thing.

Although I was starving, I didn't want to eat the gross broccoli.

You can say the same sentence in two ways, depending on if you include a comma.

Although I was starving, I didn't want to eat the gross broccoli.

I didn't want to eat the gross broccoli although I was starving.

Although is more commonly used at the start of a sentence, while though is more often used in the middle.

Although I studied hard for the exam, I failed miserably.

I failed the exam miserably though I studied hard for it.

More examples:

Even though it was raining hard, I walked outside without my umbrella.

Even though it was freezing outside, he insisted on wearing shorts.

Even though I had already eaten three slices of pizza, I couldn't resist having another.

Even though I knew it was a bad idea, I decided to cut my own hair.

Prepositions of Contrast

Despite is commonly used a commonly used preposition of contrast. In spite of is more common in written English. These are prepositions, so they begin prepositional phrases, which do not have verbs in them. Almost always they are followed by some sort of noun phrase.

Here’s a simple example:

Despite the rain, we played football.

Here, despite the rain is a prepositional phrase, the rain is a noun phrase, and rain is a noun.

Despite his fear of flying, he decided to become a pilot.

Here, despite his fear is a prepositional phrase, of flying is an additional prepositional phrase, his fear is a noun phrase, and fear is a noun.

And just like above, despite can be moved to the middle if the comma is removed:

He decided to become a pilot despite his fear of flying.

More examples:

Despite being exhausted, she stayed up all night binge-watching her favorite TV show.

He auditioned for The Voice despite the fact that he was terrible at singing.

Despite the warning label, he still microwaved his metal spoon.

He couldn't resist the smell of bacon despite being a vegetarian.

In spite of works in the exact same way as despite, but you must remember that the whole phrase, meaning all three words, are a preposition. You always need all three.

In spite of the bad weather, the tourists still insisted on going to the beach.

In this example, in spite of is a preposition, in spite of the bad weather is a prepositional phrase, the bad weather is a noun phrase, and weather is a noun.

In spite of and despite are interchangeable, meaning you can always swap one out for the other and there is no change in meaning or grammar.

Purpose

Conjunctions of Purpose

So that

There is only one conjunction to learn here: so that.

I brought an umbrella so that I could stay dry.

As commonly happens, that is sometimes dropped, especially when speaking.

I brought an umbrella so I could stay dry.

With so or so that, we are creating a new clause, and this clause gives an explanation of what was said in the previous clause.

Why did I bring an umbrella?

So that I could stay dry.

This new clause will always have some sort of modal verb.

But I gave you a map so you wouldn't get lost!

She worked hard so that everything would be ready in time.

I’m going to the meeting early so that I can get a good seat.

Prepositions of Purpose

For

We use the preposition for to begin a prepositional phrase that describes the purpose of something earlier in the sentence.

This is the computer I use for teaching.

She bought a new dress for the party.

He took a break from work for a vacation.

I saved money for a new car.

Alternatives to using To in Infinitives

to + bare infinitive

in order to + bare infinitive

so as to + bare infinitive

Infinitives are often used to show purpose. For example:

They stayed up all night to finish their project on time.

Why did they stay up all night?

To finish their project on time.

NOTE: to is not being used as a preposition here. It is an infinitive marker.

When the infinitive is being used to describe a purpose, we can use other things besides to. We can also use in order to and so as to. There is no difference in meaning or grammar between these three.

I went to the store to buy bananas.

I went to the store in order to buy bananas.

I went to the store so as to buy bananas.

For in order to and so as to, the whole phrase is an infinitive marker. Meaning, they are the same as to. However, if you wish to create a negative, you cannot use just to. For example:

I wrote down what he said to not forget it.

I wrote down what he said in order not to forget it.

I wrote down what he said so as not to forget it.

However, most people would just reword this to avoid using the negative. For example:

I wrote down what he said to remember it.