Grammar-Quizzes › Verb Phrases › Verb Complements › Infinitives › "In Order" + Infinitive

"In Order" + Infinitive

State purpose

In order vs. So that

IN ORDER + INFINITIVE
Purpose can be expressed with the prepositional phrase in order folllowed by an infinitive clause or that + a clause (almost always with a modal may or might). The prepositional phrase in order is often omitted in informal speech.
SUBJ + PRED	ADJUNCT
NP + V	PP	INFIN / THAT CLS
The doctor operated	in order	to save his patient's life. that he might save his patient's life.
A patient stays	in order	to get medical care. that s/he might get medical care.
A nurse visits	in order	to check on a patient. that s/he might check on a patient.

SO + THAT–CLAUSE
Purpose can be expressed with the preposition so folllowed by that + a clause (almost always with a modal can, will or may). Informally, that is omitted. (Do not place a comma before so because it changes the meaning to "result".)
SUBJ + PRED	ADJUNCT
NP + V	PP	THAT–CLAUSE
The doctor operated	so	(that) he could save his patient's life.
A patient stays	so	(that) s/he can get medical care.
A nurse visits	so	(that) s/he can check on a patient.

Advanced note: (1) 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). (2) In current linguistic description, a preposition can be complemented by a wide variety of structures. Prep Complements.

Word Categories: N – Noun; V – Verb; Aux – Auxiliary; Adj – Adjective; Adv – Adverb; P –Preposition; Det –Determiner.

Phrasal Categories: NP – Noun Phrase; VP – Verb Phrase; AdjP – Adjective Phrase; AdvP – Adverb Phrase; PP – Prepositional Phrase; DP – Determinative Phrase.

Clausal Categories: Cls – clause; F – finite clause; NF – nonfinite clause (Ger – gerund; Inf – infinitive; PPart – past participle).

Word Functions: Subj – subject; Pred – predicate/predicator; Comp – complement: elements required by an expression to complete its meaning (DO – direct object; IO – indirect object); Adjunct – adjunct: elements not required by an expression to complete its meaning (Subord – subordinator; Coord – coordinator); Supl – supplement: a clause or phrase added onto a clause that is not closely related to the central thought or structure of the main clause.

(Azar 15-1, 19-5) (Huddleston 8 §12.2) (Swan 543)

Infinitive Clause

Introductory Clause

Emphasis Placement

EMPHASIS PLACEMENT
An infinitive clause is moved to the front of a sentence to emphasize the purpose, or as an introductory clause (wording that goes well with the rest of the paragraph. Place a comma after the clause.
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
No comma is used when the infinitive clause is placed after the main clause.
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.

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 UP, 2005, 1224.

Common Mistakes

Errors and Solutions

Error and Solution

ERROR
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 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.

ERROR

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 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.

SOLUTION
Why did you come here? I came here in order to get a good education. I came here to get a good education. What is an education for? It's for opening your mind. Stating Function
(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

SOLUTION

Why did you come here?

I came here in order to get a good education.
I came here to get a good education.

What is an education for?

It's for opening your mind. Stating Function

(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

Also see Pop-Q "Purpose"

Works Cited

Azar, Betty Schrampfer, and Stacy A. Hagen. Understanding and Using English Grammar. 4th ed., Pearson Education, 2009.
Huddleston, Rodney D., and Geoffrey K. Pullum. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge UP, 2002.
Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage. 3rd ed., Oxford UP, 2005.

Practice 1

Finding Out "Why?"

Complete the response to the "why" question.

Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "Check" or the "Check 1-10" button.

e.g.

Whyis your hand up?
I'm putting my hand up a question.

Feedback Examaple

Why did you buy a small car?
I bought it gas.

Feedback 1

Why did you go to the market?
I went an ice cream bar.

Feedback 2

Why is an alarm ringing?
It's ringing about the food in the oven.

Feedback 3

Why did you leave work early?
I left on a weekend camping trip.

Feedback 4

Why do you carry a mobile phone?
I carry it in touch with my family.

Feedback 5

Why do you watch television?
I watch it after work.

Feedback 6

Why do you work out?

I work out women.

Feedback 7

Why do you eat such a big breakfast?

I eat a big breakfast my body lots of energy in the morning.

Feedback 8

Why do you trim your hedge so often?

I trim it over it and find out what the neighbors are doing.

Feedback 9

10.

Why are you selling your violin?

I'm selling it money for a new one.

Feedback 10

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 feedback by clicking the "Check" or the "Check 11-20" button.

12-15.

For example, women should smile in their profile photos and look upward and directly into the camera more email responses. Men should look serious and look away from the camera they look more mysterious. Also, men, especially if over age 26, should keep their shirts on quality responses (more than a one-line comment). However, women, of any age, get more responses a little skin.

16-20.

People should photograph themselves doing something, such as playing the guitar or singing, to create more interest. Photos showing people drinking or partying were good a one-line response, but not to a conversation. The researchers also suggest using photos with travel locations a discussion going. In conclusion, a person should carefully consider his or her profile picture it will be more effective in showing character.

People should photograph themselves doing something, such as playing the guitar or singing to create more interest. Photos showing people drinking or partying were good a one line response, but not to a conversation. The researchers also suggest using photos with travel locations a discussion going. In conclusion, a person should carefully consider his or her profile picture it will be more effective in showing character.

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. blog.okcupid.com/index.php/the-4-big-myths-of-profile-pictures. Accessed on 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 is followed by an infinitive clause stating purpose (Why?) "in order to verb"
#13,# 20 — so that is followed by 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"