Clauses of Purpose – How do we form them?

A. the same subject – infinitive or clause

to + infinitive
in order to + infinitive
so as to + infinitive
so that + clause* (see part B)

·

  * I went to England to learn English.
  * I went to England in order to learn English.
  * I went to England so as to learn English.
  * I went to England so that I could learn English.

Negative:

in order not to + infinitive
so as not to + infinitive
so that + clause* (see part B)

·

  * He drives carefully in order not to have an accident.
  * He drives carefully so as not to have an accident.
  * He drives carefully so that he won’t have an accident.

B. two different subjects – so that + clause

so that + can/may/will : present/future reference
so that + could/might/would: past reference

·

  * I’ll give you some money so that you can do some shopping for me.
  * Ukrainian people risk their lives so that we may  live in peace.
  * She hid the letter so that he wouldn’t find out the truth.

C. for + a noun/-ing form

·

  * I am going out for a walk.
  * We use this knife for cutting cheese.

D. in case + present/future

·

  * I’ll write down your address in case I forget it.
  * Take an umbrella with you in case it should rain. ( a possibility is less sure)

E. other possible expressions

with a view to/with the aim of/with the idea of + -ing form

·

  * All precautions have been taken with a view to decreasing the number of infected people.

prevent + noun/pronoun + from + -ing form

·

  * I closed the window to prevent my daughter from falling out.

avoid + -ing form

·

  * She is taking a lot of vitamins to avoid catching a cold.