So that vs.

to + infinitive: expressing purpose

Expressing purpose with a verb infinitive We use to + infinitive when we want to show the purpose of an action. (purpose = why we do something) A: 'Why did you go to London?' We can use to + infinitive when we want to B: 'To see my sister.' say why someone did something. I'm going to the bank to get some money. The information desk is there to We can use to + infinitive when we want to help tourists. say why something exists. The police were there to control the crowd. We can use to + infinitive after adjectives likeeasy, hard, difficult, impossible, etc. It's hard to speak a foreign language fluently. It's impossible to walk on water. She finds it easy to make new friends.

'to' vs. 'for' We use for before a noun: for dinner, for lunch, for a holiday. We use to before a verb: to eat, to have a holiday. I went to Madrid for learning to learn Spanish. Compare: What would you like to eat? What would you like for breakfast? Expressing purpose with 'so that' We often use to + infinitive to express a purpose. (We say: I went to the bank to get some money;I took a taxi to get there faster, etc.) Sometimes we cannot use the infinitive - we must use so that. We use so that to say that one person does something and as a result someone else can do or doesnt have to do something else. We use so that to say that one action makes We built a pool in the garden so that the children can (or could) swim in hot weather. He bought his wife a car so that she didnt have to take the bus so often. They guarded the prisoner well so that he didnt (or wouldnt) escape. Ive bought a dictionary so that I can learn more. I bought a dictionary so that I could learn more.
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another action possible. We use so that + can / could / will be able to / would have. We use so that to say that one action will help us to avoid having to do something. We use so that + dont have to / wont have to / wouldnt have to. We use so that to say that one action will prevent another thing happening. We use so that + wont / wouldnt / dont.

Im going to buy a dictionary so that I can (or will be able to) learn more. We arrived at the theatre early so that we would have time to eat before the show.

Im going shopping this evening so that I dont (or wont) have togo tomorrow. I go shopping on Friday evenings so that I dont have to go at the weekends. I went shopping on Friday evening so that I didnt (or wouldn't)have to go at the weekend.

Ive brought an umbrella so that I dont (or wont) get wet. Im going to bring an umbrella so that I dont (or wont) get wet. I took an umbrella so that I wouldnt (or didn't) get wet. I always carry an umbrella so that I dont get wet.

'So that' or 'so'? In informal speech, native English speakers often omit that and say only so. However, this can be confusing for learners and we recommend you use so that in its full form. Alternatives to so that: so that I could learn = in order to learn so that I didnt have to learn = in order not to have to learn (in order that and in order not are more formal than so that) With stative verbs (know, have, seem, appear, etc.) we often use in order to or so as to instead of 'so that'.

TIPS FOR WRITING A GOOD COMPOSITION

1st STEP - Analysis of the title The title must be analyzed identifying the three main points :

Subject

Focus

Comment

2nd STEP - Brainstorming Reflect on the focus identified by the title and take notes. Remember to cross out the banal and superficial ideas.

3rd STEP - Organization The organization changes according to the kind of essay you are going to write.

A. In the case of an essay by listing you can follow the scheme below :

Introducers : establish the topic focus and the point of view

1st paragraph

Pre-topic sentence (background information)

2nd paragraph

Introductory sentence (In fact/For example X has three main aspects / X should be 1, 2, 3) about how the work will be organized

define the ideas anticipated in the introduction, present examples and details to support them

Point 1 (First, Firstly ) 3rd, 4th, 5th paragraphs

Point 2 (Then / Secondly )

Modulators : sentences that consent a passage from a point of view, context or aspect to another Point 3 (The third argument / Thirdly ) *

Terminators : paragraphs that conclude the ideas in a logical and 6th paragraph psychologically satisfying way * For the use of linkers, refer to the table below.

Personal opinion and conclusion : Now you can express your opinion and make reference to your personal experience *

EXAMPLE Develop the title given following the table below. Qualities for Success in the 21st Century

1st STEP - Analysis of the title The title must be analyzed identifying the three main points :

Subject Qualities for Success 2nd STEP - Brainstorming

Focus in the 21st Century

Comment Reasoning by list and examples, expressing opinion

Reflect on the focus identified by the title and take notes. Remember to cross out the banal and superficial ideas.

Subject

Focus

Comment

Remember you are not expressing your opinion in this phase 4

Developers :

Personal qualities for success

success in the 21st Century Identification of qualities Reasoning on flexibility (what it is, why it is necessary) Reasoning on honesty (what it is, why it is necessary) Reasoning on creativity (what it is, why it is necessary) Reasoning on perseverance (what it is, why it is necessary) Reasons for your choice, results of reasoning

Reasoning by list and examples, expressing opinion

3rd STEP - Organization

what personal qualities will be needed for success in the 21st century? Possibly the four most essential attributes are

1st paragraph

Pre-topic sentence (background information)

2nd paragraph

Introductory sentence (In fact/For example X has three main aspects / X should be 1, 2, 3) about how the work will be organized (listing) Remember you are not expressing your opinion in this phase 5

flexibility (what it is, why it is necessary, example) honesty (what it is, why it is necessary, example) creativity (what it is, why it is necessary, example) perseverance (what it is, why it is necessary, example) as today, so in the future

Point 1 (First, Firstly )

Point 2 (Then / Secondly ) 3 ,4 ,5 ,6 paragraphs

Point 3 (The third argument / Thirdly )

Point 4 (Finally) * 7th paragraph Personal opinion and conclusion :

Now you can express your opinion and make reference to

your personal experience * * For the use of linkers, refer to the table below .

B. In the case of an essay by arguments for and against you can follow the scheme below :

Introducers : establish the topic focus and the point of view

1st paragraph

Background information

2nd paragraph

How the work will be organized Suitable verbs : going to, will, intend, look at, deal with Remember you are not expressing your opinion in this phase 6

3rd paragraph Developers : define the ideas anticipated in the introduction, present examples and details to support them

Arguments for Introductory sentence (There are three points) Point 1 (Firstly ) Point 2 (Secondly ) Point 3 (The third argument ) *

Modulators : sentences that consent a passage from a point of view, context or aspect to another

4th paragraph

Arguments against Introductory sentence (Three points / aspects can be ) Point 1 (First, ) Point 2 (Then / secondly ) Point 3 (Thirdly ) *

Terminators : paragraphs that 5th paragraph conclude the ideas in a logical and

Personal opinion and conclusion : Now you can express your opinion and make

psychologically satisfying way * For the use of linkers, refer to the table below.

reference to your personal experience *

EXAMPLE Develop the title given following the table below. Should smoking be allowed in public places?

1st STEP - Analysis of the title The title must be analyzed identifying the three main points : Subject Smoking Focus Smoking in public places? Comment Answering, expressing opinion

2nd STEP - Brainstorming Reflect on the focus identified by the title and take notes. Remember to cross out the banal and superficial ideas. Subject Smoking Focus Smoking in public places? Present situation Reasons for the present law Reasons of the smokers Reasons of the non-smokers Effects on health Psychological aspects Social, economic and political aspects etc. Comment Answering, expressing opinion

3rd STEP - Organization

 people are more aware of the dangers of smoking today smokers are separated from non-smokers in most countries Im going to examine

1st paragraph

Background information

2nd paragraph

How the work will be organized Suitable verbs : going to, will, intend, look at, deal with Remember you are not expressing your opinion in this phase 8

smoking not illegal passive smoking causes cancer? No proof

3rd paragraph

Arguments for Introductory sentence (There are three points) Point 1 (Firstly ) Point 2 (Secondly ) Point 3 (The third argument )

a dirty habit cause of fires non-smokers need a smokefree environment

4th paragraph

Arguments against Introductory sentence (As regards the arguments against, three points/aspects can be ) Point 1 (First, ) Point 2 (Then / secondly ) Point 3 (Thirdly )*

separate smokers special tax on cigarettes

5th paragraph

Personal opinion and conclusion : Now you can express your opinion and make reference to your personal experience

* For the use of linkers, refer to the table below :

Table of linkers : To give order To indicate consequence To indicate continuation Firstly - at first - initially - and - then - immediately afterwards - later on - some time - later - in conclusion As a result - as a consequence - consequently - thus - therefore because of that And - moreover - besides - furthermore - in addition to

To indicate simultaneity To contrast or contradict

Meanwhile - while - in the meantime Instead - yet - but - on the contrary - even if - even though however - on one hand / on the other hand - nevertheless - in spite of In other words - that is to say - this means that - i.e.(Latin : id est) - to put it another way That is - namely - e.g. (Latin : exempli gratia = for example) for example - for instance - an example of this is In my opinion - I am of the opinion that - as regards me - as far as I am concerned - as concerns me - to my way of thinking - to my mind - I personally believe that Last - finally - to conclude - summing up - to wind/wrap/sum up

To rephrase To exemplify To express opinion

To conclude