In Order + Infinitive
Stating Purpose
In order vs. So that
| IN ORDER + INFINITIVE | ||
|---|---|---|
In order expresses purpose and is complemented by an infinitive clause. Optionally, shorten in order + infinitive to just the infinitive (to + verb). The content of the in–order–clause answers the question, "Why?" |
||
| SUBJ + VERB | IN ORDER | INFINITIVE CLS |
The doctor operated |
in order |
to save his patient's life. |
A patient stays in a hospital |
in order |
to get medical care. |
A nurse comes every hour |
in order |
to check on a patient. |
| SO + THAT–CLAUSE | ||
|---|---|---|
So also expresses purpose but is complemented by a that-clause instead. A modal , can or could, is commonly included in the that-clause. (¹Do not place a comma before so. because it changes the meaning to "result") |
||
| SUBJ + VERB | SO | THAT–CLAUSE |
The doctor operated |
so |
(that) he could save his patient's life. |
A patient stays in a hospital |
so |
(that) s/he can get medical care. |
A nurse comes every hour |
so |
(that) s/he can check on a patient. |
Review: Showing Cause & Effect vs. Purpose
Advanced note: in traditional grammar, "to" is part of the infinitive verb form; however, in linguistic description, "to" is a subordinator related to the entire clause not just the verb (which is base form). See Infinitivals
Infinitive Clause
Introductory Clause
Emphasis Placement
| EMPHASIS PLACEMENT |
|---|
|
To practice typing, I often go to the computer lab. |
To find information, I always go the library lab. |
To get an answer to a difficult problem, I ask my professor. |
| NORMAL PLACEMENT |
|---|
|
I often go to the computer lab to practice typing. |
I always go the library lab to find information. |
I ask my professor to get an answer to a difficult problem. |
No comma is used when the infinitive clause is placed after the main clause.
Infinitive Clause
Stating "Discovery"
Advanced
Purpose vs. Discovery
| PURPOSE | |
|---|---|
When we express purpose, the infinitive is usually followed by a noun or a noun phrase. The actions in the main clause and the infinitive clause occur in the same time frame. Optionally include in order before the infinitive. |
|
| MAIN CLAUSE | INFINITIVE + NP |
Steve enters his office |
to find his co-workers. |
A man walks into a bar |
to get a drink. |
The scientist returned to his lab |
to discover a cure for cancer. |
The police roped off the area |
to find a bag which might contain a bomb. |
We went to the station. |
to catch the train. |
The European Union worked out a deal |
to help Greece's recovery. |
| DISCOVERY ¹ | |
|---|---|
When we report an unexpected experience, the infinitive includes to see, to hear, to smell, to find, or to discover followed by a clause (finite or nonfinite) with information about the surprising experience. The actions in the main clause and the infinitive clause occur in different time frames. |
|
| MAIN CLAUSE | INFINITIVE + CLAUSE |
Steve enters his office |
to find his co-workers talking about him. |
A man walks into a bar |
to see a nude woman sitting at the bar. He asks… (joke-telling) |
The scientist returned to his lab. |
to discover everyone had already left |
The police roped off the area |
only to find the bag contained an apple. |
We went to the station |
only to see the train leaving! (disappointment) |
The European Union worked out a deal |
only to hear the Prime Minister could not accept it. |
¹ This wording is particularly common in narration and joke telling.
rope off (v.) – surround an area with rope, mark an area for no access
*The nonfinite infinitival clause is an adjunct clause which can be restated as "and unexpectedly saw / heard / smelled / found / discovered something happening."
Huddleston, Rodney and Geoffrey K. Pullum."Catenative complements, adjuncts, and coordinates: Adjuncts of result"A Student's Introduction to English Grammar. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002 Print. (1224)
Common Mistakes
Errors and Solutions
| ERROR | SOLUTION |
|---|---|
Why did you come here? I came here for getting a good education. I came here for to get a good education. I came here for get a good education.
|
Why did you come here? |
Why did you throw that bag of potato chips away? 'Cuz I'm on a diet. short answer – not a sentence So that I won't eat them. To get rid of it.
|
(I threw it away) because I'm on a diet. reason (I threw it away) so that I won't eat them. purpose (I threw it away) (in order) to get rid of it. purpose |
*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.
( ) – optional content
Pop-Q – "Purpose"
Practice 1
Finding Out "Why?"
Answer the "why" question with a complete sentence.
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "Check 1-10" button at the bottom, or click the "Check" button to the left as you go.
Note that in speech a short answer may begin with "to…
Practice 2
Profile Pictures with Character
Purpose, Means and Method
- Select the response from each menu that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "Check 11-20" button at the bottom, or click the "Check" button to the left as you go.
analyst (n.) – a person who collects and interprets statistical data in order to advise others, researchers
be effective (n.) – be successful, and working in the way that is intended
show a little skin (expression) – uncover some leg, arm, neck or breast
"The 4 Big Myths of Profile Pictures." OKTrends.com. 2011. < http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/the-4-big-myths-of-profile-pictures/> 28 May 2011.
Feedback
#11 — be effective in is a verb + preposition used before a gerund Verb Phrs + Gerunds
#12, #14, #16, #19 — (in order) to introduces an infinitive clause stating purpose (Why?) "in order to verb"
#13,# 20 — so that introduces a clause stating purpose (Why?) "so that he could do X"
#15 — by verb+ing states a means of doing something (How?) By + Gerund "it did it by verb+ing"
#17, #18 — for verb+ing states the function of a tool or method (What's it for?)
For + Gerund "X is for verb+ing"