The most common way to express purpose, especially in informal situations.
Beginning: To improve her English, she took online classes.
Middle: He left early to catch the train.
Used to explain the purpose or reason for doing something, more formal than "to".
Beginning: In order to pass the exam, she studied every night.
Middle: She studied hard in order to pass the exam.
A more formal version of "to", used to show purpose.
Beginning: So as to avoid traffic, we left early.
Middle: They lowered prices so as to attract more customers.
Explains the purpose or intention behind an action.
Middle: I set an alarm so I wouldn’t oversleep.
After semicolon: I was hungry; so I made a sandwich.
Explains the purpose of an action, often followed by a clause.
Beginning: So that everyone could hear me, I spoke loudly.
Middle: I spoke loudly so that everyone could hear me.
TO + INFINITIVE; IN ORDER TO + INFINITIVE; SO AS TO + INFINITIVE (para)
We use these infinitive structures when the subject of both clauses is the same.
o “I ‘ve called you to/in order to/ so as to ask you a few questions”
In the negative form: not to + infinitive; in order not to + infinitive; so as not to + infinitive
o “We are speaking very low so as not to wake up the baby”
SO/SO THAT + CLAUSE (para que, de modo que)
So (that) is used:
When the subject of both clauses is not the same. Compare:
o “We bought a plane ticket to go to Scotland” (same subject)
o “We bought a ticket so that you could go to Scotland” (two different subjects: We and You)
o “She gave me her phone number so that I could contact her"
with auxiliaries in most of the cases:
o can, will: to talk about the present
£ “Turn down the radio so (that) I can sleep”
£ “I’ll take the umbrella, so (that) I won’t get wet”
o could, would: to talk about the past
£ “She turned down the radio so (that) I could sleep”
£ “I took the umbrella so (that) I wouldn’t get wet”
When the purpose is negative (although the subject is the same)
o I'll take a jacket so that I don't get cold. (cogeré una chaqueta para que no pase frío/ para no pasar frío)
El “that” de “so that” se omite en situaciones informales
Practice
1.- COMPLETE THE SENTENCES WITH A SUITABLE CONNECTOR
We are here in class …………………………………. learn English.
I sometimes take a taxi ………………………………………. be late.
I’m calling you ………………………………. congratulate you on your new job.
We meet every Friday evening ………………………………..( complete the sentence, open answers)
My parents need a loan ………………….. pay for our new house.
Lend me some money …………………………………………( complete the sentence, open answers)
I always drive slowly ……………………… get a ticket. / ………………………. have an accident.
People read the newspapers ………………………… be informed on the latest news.
Why don’t you have an aspirin …………………… have that splitting headache?
2. PRACTICE. - REPHRASE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES WITHOUT CHANGING THE MEANING
1.- Sarah is learning English because she wants to get a better job (TO)
2.- Albert went to the bank. He wanted to cash a cheque (IN ORDER TO)
3.- I’ll give you a map. This way, you will find the way all right. (SO THAT)
4.- The libraries will open before; then the students will be able to study longer (SO THAT)
5.- My neighbours switch off the heating at 9 PM. They save money. (IN ORDER TO).
6.- I am going to study harder. I want to be able to get the scholarship (SO THAT)
7.- I wore boots because I didn’t want my feet to get wet (SO THAT)
8.- Mark always gets to work early. He wants to impress his boss (SO AS TO)
9.- She will speak slow and clear. Then you will be able to understand her (SO THAT)
10.- Leanne took some change from her pocket. She wanted to buy a book (SO THAT)
11.- She knocked on my door because she wanted to wake me up. (TO INFINITIVE)
12.- I hurried. I didn’t want to be late (SO THAT)
13.- If you want to practice grammar, I will prepare some exercises for you. (SO THAT)
3.- COMBINE THE IDEAS BY USING “SO (THAT)”
1.- I’m going to leave the party early. I want to be able to get a good night’s sleep.
2.- Please be quiet. I want to be able to hear what Ruth is saying.
3.- The little boy pretended to be sick. He wanted to stay home rather than go to school
4.- She turned on the T.V. She wanted to listen to the news.
5.- I cashed a check yesterday. I wanted to make sure that I had enough money .
COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING
1.- I’m going on a diet so (that)..................................................................................................
2.- She will give us her phone number so (that)........................................................................
3.- She sang a lullaby so (that) the baby......................................................................................
4.- I stayed home last weekend in order to..................................................................................
5.- You shouldn’t make noise so (that).......................................................................................
TRANSLATE INTO ENGLISH
1.- Necesito tiempo y un lugar tranquilo para concentrarme en mis estudios
2.- Nosotros votamos a nuestros políticos para que gestionar el país de una manera eficaz y eficiente
3.- Deberías dedicar más tiempo al inglés para mejorar tu pronunciación.
4.- Cogeremos un taxi para que no llegues tarde al aeropuerto
5.- ¿Por qué no coges una revista y unos juegos de mesa para no aburrirte?
6.- Me gustaría que me contaras tu problema para poder ayudarte
7.- Mis padres van a comprar otro ordenador para que no discutamos y podamos trabajar todos con él.
8.- Hablaré con él para que me explique por qué se enfadó conmigo
9.- El gobierno aumentará los impuestos para recaudar más dinero
10.- Hay muchos trenes al centro de la ciudad para que todos los trabajadores que viven fuera de Madrid puedan ir al trabajo todos los días.
11.- Dios hizo a las mujeres para que los hombres nos enamoráramos de ellas
12.- Encuentro razonable hablar con el jefe para intentar aclarar este malentendido