Purpose conjunctions
Conjunctions serve a crucial function in language by connecting words, phrases, or clauses.
Conjunctions can serve various purposes in sentences, such as:
1. **Connecting Similar Ideas**: Conjunctions like “and” and “also” connect similar ideas or items.
– Example: She likes to read novels and watch movies.
2. **Expressing Alternatives**: Conjunctions like “or” and “either…or” present alternatives or choices.
– Example: You can have tea or coffee for breakfast.
3. **Showing Contrast**: Conjunctions like “but,” “yet,” and “although” show contrast between two ideas.
– Example: He studied hard, but he still failed the exam.
4. **Indicating Cause and Effect**: Conjunctions like “because,” “since,” and “so” show the cause-and-effect relationship between two clauses.
– Example: She missed the bus, so she arrived late to the meeting.
5. **Establishing Conditions**: Conjunctions like “if” and “unless” introduce conditional clauses.
– Example: If it rains, we’ll stay indoors.
6. **Emphasizing Similarity**: Conjunctions like “as” and “just as” emphasize similarity between two clauses.
– Example: He loves to travel, just as his father does.
Each conjunction serves a specific purpose in connecting parts of a sentence or expressing relationships between ideas. They are essential for creating coherent and meaningful sentences in English.
so that
“So that” is a subordinating conjunction that is used to express purpose or intention. It introduces a dependent clause that explains why something is done or to what end. Here are some examples:
1. She studied hard so that she could pass the exam.
2. He bought flowers so that he could surprise his wife.
3. They saved money so that they could go on vacation.
4. I wrote a note so that I wouldn’t forget what to do.
5. She left early so that she wouldn’t miss the bus.
In each of these examples, the clause introduced by “so that” explains the purpose or intention behind the action described in the main clause.
in order that
“In order that” is another way of expressing purpose or intention similar to “so that.” It is also a subordinating conjunction that introduces a dependent clause indicating the reason or purpose for the action described in the main clause. Here are some examples:
1. She studied hard in order that she could pass the exam.
2. He arrived early in order that he could find a good seat.
3. They saved money in order that they could buy a new car.
4. I wrote a detailed plan in order that I wouldn’t forget anything.
5. She packed her bags early in order that she wouldn’t be late for the trip.
Like “so that,” “in order that” is used to provide an explanation of why something is done or to what end. They are interchangeable in many cases, but “in order that” may sound slightly more formal or explicit.
Cheat sheet
Here’s a cheat sheet summarizing the usage of “so that” and “in order that” as subordinating conjunctions expressing purpose or intention:
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**Cheat Sheet: “So That” vs “In Order That”**
**1. So That:**
– Used to express purpose or intention.
– Example: She studied hard so that she could pass the exam.
– Indicates the reason or goal behind an action.
**2. In Order That:**
– Also used to express purpose or intention.
– Example: He arrived early in order that he could find a good seat.
– Similar in meaning to “so that,” but may sound more formal or explicit.
**Key Points:**
– Both “so that” and “in order that” introduce dependent clauses explaining the purpose or intention behind an action described in the main clause.
– They indicate the reason or goal for which something is done.
– “In order that” may sound slightly more formal or explicit compared to “so that.”
Exercise
Here’s a worksheet that includes sentences focusing on “so that” and “in order that”:
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**Worksheet on “So That” and “In Order That”**
**Fill in the blanks with the appropriate conjunction: “so that” or “in order that.”**
1. She studied hard __________ she could pass the exam.
2. He woke up early __________ he wouldn’t miss the train.
3. They saved money __________ they could buy a new house.
4. He packed his bags early __________ he wouldn’t forget anything.
5. She wrote a to-do list __________ she could stay organized.
6. They left home early __________ they could avoid traffic.
7. He wrote down the instructions __________ he wouldn’t make any mistakes.
8. She practiced piano every day __________ she could improve her skills.
9. They bought groceries online __________ they wouldn’t have to go to the store.
10. He set multiple alarms __________ he wouldn’t oversleep.
Answers
Here are the answers to the worksheet:
1. so that
2. so that
3. so that
4. so that
5. so that
6. so that
7. so that
8. so that
9. so that
10. so that
Here’s a worksheet with sentences focusing on “in order that”:
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**Worksheet on “In Order That”**
Here’s a worksheet focusing on “in order that”:
—
**Worksheet on “In Order That”**
**Fill in the blanks with the appropriate conjunction: “in order that.”**
1. He arrived early __________ he could find a good seat.
2. She wrote a detailed plan __________ she wouldn’t forget anything.
3. They saved money __________ they could buy a new car.
4. He studied late into the night __________ he could pass the exam.
5. She packed her bags early __________ she wouldn’t be late for the trip.
6. He made a checklist __________ he wouldn’t miss any important tasks.
7. She set reminders on her phone __________ she wouldn’t forget the appointment.
8. They worked hard __________ they could finish the project on time.
9. He double-checked the directions __________ he wouldn’t get lost.
10. She completed the online course __________ she could learn new skills.
Answers
Here are the answers to the worksheet:
1. in order that
2. in order that
3. in order that
4. in order that
5. in order that
6. in order that
7. in order that
8. in order that
9. in order that
10. in order that
Each of these sentences uses “in order that” to express purpose or intention.
