Use to, in order to, or so as to plus the base verb to express purpose, as in she studied hard to pass the exam. For negative purpose, use so as not to or in order not to, and use so that plus a subject and a modal verb, as in she wrote it down so that she wouldn’t forget.
Grammar Rule
Purpose connectors are followed by the base verb; negative purpose puts not before to; so that introduces a clause with a modal verb.
Connectors of Purpose: Rules and Examples
| Connector | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| to / in order to / so as to | + base verb | She studied hard to pass the exam. He left early in order to catch the train. |
| so as not to / in order not to | negative purpose | They whispered so as not to wake the baby. |
| so that | + subject + modal (can/could/will/would) | She wrote it down so that she wouldn’t forget. He spoke slowly so that everyone could understand. |
Remember: to/in order to/so as to + verb; so as not to/in order not to for negatives; so that + modal.
Practice Test
Instructions
Answer each question in the test below using the correct connector of purpose. You will get a new random set of questions every time you retake the test, plus a downloadable results summary with your name and score at the end.
Connectors of Purpose
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you express purpose with to or in order to?
Use to, in order to, or so as to plus the base verb, as in she studied hard to pass the exam.
How do you express negative purpose?
Use so as not to or in order not to, as in they whispered so as not to wake the baby.
How do you use so that for purpose?
Use so that plus a subject and a modal verb like can, could, will, or would, as in she wrote it down so that she wouldn’t forget.
Can you say to not wake the baby instead of so as not to wake the baby?
It is less natural; the standard negative purpose forms are so as not to or in order not to.