86. Just In Time for Clustr Maps' 1st Anniversary

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If you please glance at the Clustrmaps widget on the right: you’ll soon see that it’s its first anniversary. Of course it doesn’t coincide with the date when I created the blog; I wish it did!

Thank to all those who, after stumbling upon my ‘creation’, chose to visit more than once.

So, back to the starting point – in the absence of a decision, still posting until numerology gives me a clue.

EXPRESSING PURPOSE

Needless to say, words are more often than not misleading.  Suppose you want to express what the intended result of your actions is: as soon as you try, you will see that cause (why) and purpose (what for) are very close to one another in the expression of their possible initial questions, yet not so in the linguistic structures you must use when answering:

Why did you do that? ~ Because I thought I would help.

What did you do that for? ~For you to stop worrying.

-->Case One. If the subject in the newly created clause of purpose is the same as the one in the main clause, AND the latter is in the affirmative, then the connectors to be used are:

to + Infinitive                            so as to + Infinitive                    in order to + Infinitive

Dylan lit a cigarette to smoke it.

The Smiths are saving money so as to buy a new house.

Eugene is learning languages in order to travel around the world.

If the subject is the same in the main clause and in the newly created clause of purpose BUT the latter is in the negative, you can only use the following:

so as not to + Infinitive                             in order not to + Infinitive

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You must have already observed that you can’t use the negative Infinitive ‘not to do’, simply because it is specialized in expressing prohibition, and it works wonderfully in Indirect Speech – but not here!

Donald put his wallet into his inner pocket so as not to lose it.

Laura drove her car slowly in order not to have an accident.

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-->Case Two. The subject of the subordinate clause is different from the subject of the main clause. This means that someone does (or did) something with the purpose of obtaining something (else) from a different person (or entity).

Here, consider two possibilities.

(a) With a subordinate clause of purpose expressing a present or future intentionality, the verb in the main clause is expressed in a present or future tense, or an Imperative. The connectors to be used are so that or in order that and the verb form can be will/can/may + [not] Infinitive, depending on what you mean to say.  

Bring the dead tiger here so that/in order that everybody will/can/may see it.

Mrs. Fleming has bought the newspaper so that/in order that her husband will/can/may read it.

I'll draw a map so that/in order that you can't/won't/may not get lost.

(b) With a subordinate clause of purpose which refers to the past, the verb in the main clause is expressed in a past tense. The connectors to be used are so that or in order that and the verb form can be would/could/might + [not] Infinitive, depending on what you mean to say.  

I left the room so that/in order that they could/might speak freely.

I switched on the radio so that/in order that we would/could/might listen to the news.

The murderer disguised himself as a priest so that/in order that the police wouldn't/couldn't/might not recognize him.

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-->So that can also be used when both the main clause and the subordinate clause have the same subject, yet in these cases  so as to, in order to and to-Infinitive are by far more frequent.

AMBIGUITY

The expression of a subject and a direct object by animate entities (i.e., persons) in the main clause leads to misunderstanding: we don’t know whether the purpose refers to the subject or to the direct object.

Lily sent her grandson to the garden to rest a little.

Which of the two are supposed to rest – Lily, or else her grandson?

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(a) By using so that, the subject of both clauses is the same:

Lily sent her grandson to the garden so that she could rest.

(b) By using for + Accusative + to + Infinitive, the direct object in the main clause is the subject of the subordinate clause:

Lily sent her grandson to the garden for him to rest.
But frst let's have a go for some exercises:

Expressing purpose: exercises



Exercise 1

a) Kirk took a handkerchief out of his pocket [so as / in order] /to blow his nose.

b) Sue put on her glasses [so as / in order] /to to read the magazine.

c) My grandmother clung to the banister [so as not/ in order not] /to fall downstairs.

d) Ian always eats very slowly [so as not/ in order not] /to choke.

e) Albert studies very hard [so as / in order] /to become a good surgeon.

f) Louise married a rich heir [so as / in order] /to inherit his fortune.

g) Mavis turned up the radio[so as not/ in order not] /to to hear him.

h) Edgar got up at 6,30 [so as / in order] /to be early for work.

i) Sebastian is burning the midnight oil [so as not / in order not] /to fail his exams.

j) Nick sat in the armchair [so as / in order] /to rest a little.

k) Trevor had several cups of coffee [so as not/ in order not] /to fall asleep.

l) Samantha typed the report very carefully [so as not/ in order not] /to make any mistakes.

m) Walter got back home at half past one [so as / in order] /to have lunch with his wife and children.

n) Adam tore the letter open [so as / in order] /to read it immediately.

o) Simon turned off the tap [so as not/ in order not] /to waste water,

p) Grace took the watering-can [so as / in order] /to water the plants.

Exercise 2

a) Our teacher speaks slowly so that/in order that we can/will understand everything.

b) George works overtime so that/in order that his children may/will attend the best school in the town.

c)  The survivors in the dinghy waved some clothes so that/in order that the helicopter could/migt spot them.

d) Mr. Greene opened the cage so that/in order that the nightingale could/might/would be free.

e) The famous film star gave a party so that/in order that everybody could/might/would congratulate her on her success.

f) Open the window, please so that/in order that I may/will breathe fresh air.

g) I'm making some omelettes so that/in order that you can/may have them for dinner.

h) Our boss locked the door so that/in order that nobody could/would/might enter his office.

i) Grace switched off the TV so that/in order that her children could not/might not watch that programme.

j) Draw the curtains so that/in order that they may not see me.

k) Paul has hidden the photos so that/in order that I may not/will see them.

l) I'll be punctual tomorrow so that/in order that they may not/will not criticize me.

Exercise 3

a) Mrs Reynolds sent her son to the supermarket for him to buy some flour.

b) The rich woman gave the beggar some coins so that she could feel better/for him to feel better.

c) I asked him to bring a recorder so that I could/would record the conversation.

d) She sent her cousin to his room so that she could talk to his friend/for him to talk to his friend.

e) I gave some money to my sister for her to buy the newspaper.

f) My sister-in-law sent her son to a language school for him to learn English.

g) I showed John the catalogue so that he might/would choose a new paper-hole punch.

h) He left a letter to the secretary for her to give the manager.

i) Hold the batch of paper so that I may open the door.   

j) Explain to me again, please, so that I may/will understand better.