Grammar 28 - Connectors - Purpose

When we say ‘A car is FOR commuting’ or ‘a radio is FOR listening to music’ we are explaining the purpose of the car or the radio. The word in capitals is the connector that helps to state the purpose. Here's another example:

‘I went out TO buy groceries in the supermarket.’

This sentence answers the question ’why are you going to the supermarket?’ Here, the word in capitals is the connector explaining the purpose. In such sentences we can also use SO AS TO and IN ORDER TO, and the sentences would read:

‘I went out SO AS TO buy groceries in the super market.’
'I went out IN ORDER TO buy groceries in the super market.’

The examples given are positive forms. We can convert them to negative forms by just adding NOT before the TO, like so:

‘I dimmed the headlights SO AS NOT TO disturb the vehicle coming in the opposite direction.’

Here the addition of NOT gives the purpose for which the headlights were dimmed. There is yet another connector that is frequently used to show purpose. SO THAT is a connector that is normally followed by CAN or WILL, a modal. Here's an example:

‘I am studying hard SO THAT I can get good grades.’

This is a sentence in which the connector helps to answer the question ‘why are you studying hard?’ Connectors are extremely useful in helping us to communicate better and this quiz on grammar tells you how to use them.