Expressing Purpose

1. We can use “to + infinitive” to talk about a person’s

purpose.
Examples:
- Jack went to England to study engineering.
- I’m going out to do some shopping.
- I go to Eunice’s house to have a dinner.
- I give my girlfriend some flowers to express my
love.

2. In a formal style, we use “in order to” or “so as

to”:
- Jack went to England (in order) to study
engineering.
- We got up early so as to have plenty of time.
- We choose a science program so as to continue
our study at the faculty of medicine.

3. In negative sentences, we normally use “in order

not to+ V ” or “so as not to + V” (not “to” alone)
 Example:
- We got up early so as not to be late. (NOT: we
got up early not to be late)
- We got up early in order not to be late.

4. We can use “for” to talk about a person’s purpose,

BUT ONLY WHEN it is followed by a NOUN.

Examples:
- We went to a restaurant for lunch. (not verb)
- I’m going out for a walk. (not verb)

5.We use “for + V-ing” to talk about the purpose or

function of a thing.
 Examples:
- A thermometer is used for measuring
temperature.
- We use this knife for cutting bread.

6.We also use “so (that)” to talk about purpose. We

often use this structure with “can”, “can’t”, “will”
or “won’t”.
Examples:
- I’ll give you a key so (that) you can unlock the
door.
- We’ll leave early so (that) we won’t arrive late.

Note: - We often use “so (that)” with “could(n’t)”

and “would(n’t)” to talk about the past.

Examples:
- I gave you a key so (that) you could unlock the
door.
- We left early so (that) we wouldn’t arrive late.

7.We use “in case” to talk about things we do in order

to be ready or safe because perhaps something else
will happens.
Examples:
- Take an umbrella with you in case it rains. (…
because perhaps it will rain)

- I’ll take some food with me in case I’m hungry on

the journey. (… because perhaps I will be hungry on
the journey)
- I’ll write down the telephone number in case I
forget it. (… because perhaps I will forget it)
HOMEWORK

1.I go to the library to ..................

2.She has gone to the greengrocer’s for .........
3.I get up early to .............
4.They have gone to the bookstore for ..........
5.I used this hammer for ........
6.They stopped working at 1 o’clock in order to ....
7.She gets up early so that .........
8.She is saving money so that ......
9.Take a book on the journey in case .......
10. We took a map with us on the journey so as not
to ........