In Order + Infinitive: stating purpose

In Order + Infinitive

Stating purpose

Purpose – in order / so that

IN ORDER — PURPOSE			SO THAT — PURPOSE
Use in order to introduce an infinitive clause stating purpose. The statement answers the question: Why? Optionally, shorten in order + infinitive to just the infinitive (to + verb).			Use so or so that to introduce a clause stating purpose. The clause commonly includes can or could. (Do not place a comma before so.)
SUBJECT & VERB The doctor operated	IN ORDER (optional) in order	INFINITIVE CLAUSE to save his patient's life.	SUBJECT & VERB The doctor operated	SO / SO THAT so (that)	CLAUSE with MODAL he could save his patient's life.
A patient stays in a hospital	in order	to get medical care.	A patient stays in a hospital	so (that)	s/he can get medical care.
A nurse comes every hour	in order	to check on a patient.	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 modern linguistics "to" is a subordinator related to the entire clause not just the verb (which is base form). See Infinitivals

Education

Common Mistakes

ERROR	FIX
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? 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)

ERROR

FIX

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?
                      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)

*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.
Pop-Q – "Purpose"

Infinitive Clauses

Introductory clauses

Emphasizing purpose

EMPHASIS PLACEMENT	NORMAL PLACEMENT
Sometimes we move an infinitive clause to the front of a sentence to emphasize the purpose, or to reword the sentence in a parallel way using purpose as the common lead-in.	When the infinitive clause is moved after the verb, the clause is in its normal, nonemphasis position.
To practice typing, I often go to the computer lab.	I often go to the computer lab to practice typing.
To find information, I always go the the library lab.	I always go the the library lab to find information.
To get an answer to a difficult problem, I ask my professor.	I ask my professor to get an anwer to a difficult problem.

Infinitive Clause

Purpose vs. Unexpected

PURPOSE		UNEXPECTED EXPERIENCE
An infinitive followed by a noun phrase expresses purpose. The actions in the main clause and the infinitive clause occur in the same time frame. ("in order to")		An infinitive with a verb such as — see, hear, smell, find, discover — and followed by a clause expresses an unexpected or surprising experience. This wording is particularly common in narration and joke telling. The actions in the main clause and the adjunct clause occur in different time frames. ("and unexpectedly" *)
MAIN CLAUSE Steve enters his office	INFINITIVE CLAUSE to find his co-workers. (present tense narraration)	MAIN CLAUSE Steve enters his office	INFINITIVE CLAUSE to find his co-workers talking about him.
A man walks into a bar	to get a drink.	A man walks into a bar	to see a nude woman sitting at the bar. He asks…
The scientist returned to his lab	to discover a cure for cancer.	The scientist returned to his lab.	to discover everyone had already left
The police roped off the area	to find a bag which might contain a bomb.	The police roped off the area	only to find the bag contained a half-eaten sandwich not a bomb.
We went to the station.	to catch the train.	We went to the station	only to see the train leaving! (disappointment)
The European Union worked out a deal	to help Greece's recovery.	The European Union worked out a deal	only to hear the Prime Minister would need to hold a national referendum on whether to accept it

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 — see, hear, smell, find, discover — 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 (1224) Print.

Practice 1

Indicating Purpose

Select the word from each menu that best completes the sentence.
Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	ANSWER
e.g.	Why is your hand up? I put it up a question.
1.	Why did you buy a small car? I bought it gas.
2.	Why did you go to the market? I went an ice cream bar.
3.	Why is an alarm ringing? It's ringing about the food in the oven.
4.	Why did you leave work early? I left on a weekend camping trip.
5.	Why did you carry a cell phone? I carry it in touch with my family.
6.	Why do you watch television? I watch it after work.
7.	Why do you work out? I work out women.
8.	Why do you eat such a big breakfast? I eat a big breakfast my body lots of energy in the morning.
9.	Why do you trim your hedge so often? I trim it over it and find out what the neighbors are doing.
10.	Why are you selling your violin? I'm selling it money for a new one.

Practice 2

Profile Pictures with Character (advanced)

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" button to the right.

YOUR RESPONSE	CHECK ANSWER
Analysts who work for a dating web site decided to look at thousands of profile pictures. They wanted to find out what kind of profile picture was most effective in interest and email responses. What the analysts found was amusing!	Analysts who work for a dating web site decided to look at thousands of profile pictures. They wanted to find out what kind of profile picture wasmost effective in interest and email responses. What the analysts found was amusing!
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.	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.
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. < 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"

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