Life Level 4 Unit 6a
Purpose: to, for, and so that
A: Where did you go?
B: I went to the store to buy these post-its.
A: What are they for?
B: I need them for my work. They’re
great for planning.
A: Why are you writing on them?
B: To plan each stage of a project.
A: Why do they help you?
B: The colors are good for thinking, and
I like to move them around so that I
can try out different ideas.
Presentation
Use to, for, and so that to explain why people do for + -ing
something, or the purpose of an object. Phrases with Use for + -ing to talk about the purpose or function of
these words answer questions with Why? or What for? an object:
They’re great for planning.
the infinitive
Use the infinitive to: so that
• say why we do something: Use so that if we do something to get a specific or
I bought them to use at work. planned result. We often use it:
• answer questions with why: Why are you writing on • with the modal verbs can, could, will, or would: I like to
them? To plan each stage of the project. move them around so that I can try out different ideas.
Only use to + infinitive if the subject of the sentence is the • when the result is negative: I bought them so that I
same as the subject of the infinitive: wouldn’t forget my ideas.
I went to the store to buy these. (= I went to the store. I When the result is not planned, use so, not so that:
bought these post-its.) I lost my post-its so that I forgot my ideas.
We often use so instead of so that in everyday spoken
for + noun
English:
Use for + noun to say why we do something:
I cycle to work everyday so (that) I don’t have to pay
I need them for my work. for a bus.
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Level 4 Unit 6a
Exercises
Exercises
1 Put the words in the correct order.
1 I go / improve / to a class / my English / to
I go to a class to improve my English.
2 my ideas down / I / to write / bought / a book
I bought a book to write my ideas down.
3 came / a chat / here / they / for
They came here for a chat.
4 an app / testing / your math / this is / for
This is an app for testing your math.
5 so that / I’m studying / I’ll pass / the exam
I’m studying so that I’ll pass the exam.
6 so I / the bus / missed my / was late / class
The bus was late so I missed my class.
2 Choose the correct form. In one sentence both answers are possible.
1 A: Why are you staying up so late?
B: To study / For studying for my exams.
2 He needs to leave now so that / for his flight.
3 I was in a hurry so / so that I forgot my keys.
4 She went back to the train station for finding / to find her bag.
5 This gadget is for opening / to open cans.
6 I’ve downloaded a calendar so that / for I remember my appointments.
7 They left this morning so that / for a conference.
8 Let’s wait here so that / so we can get a taxi.
3 Complete the sentences with the words to, for, or so that.
1 We’re going out to do some shopping.
2 He went to the office for a meeting.
3 Let’s get to the movie theater early so that we get good seats.
4 This app is for testing my German vocabulary.
5 I used some glue to fix the toy.
6 She called to ask if you wanted some help.
7 I need a new car so that I don’t have to go to the garage every week!
8 They went to Spain for their vacation.
9 We could stop now to take a coffee break.
10 I bought this piece of sports equipment so that I can get healthy.
4 Complete these sentences so they are true for you.
1 At the moment I’m learning guitar to improve my musical skills.
2 Last weekend I went to the Mall for a meeting.
3 I want to buy a microwave so that I can heat my food faster.
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