Expressing purpose and intention in English is a fundamental skill for communicating clearly in both professional and everyday settings. Understanding how to use in order to and so as to allows you to explain reasons, goals, and motivations with precision and confidence.
¿How do you express purpose with in order to and so as to?
Both expressions serve the same function: they introduce the reason or goal behind an action. The key grammatical element that follows them is an infinitive form [01:25]. An infinitive is usually the basic form of a verb preceded by the word to, such as to walk, to edit, or to write. Sometimes the word to is not even necessary for a verb to be considered an infinitive.
When you combine these infinitives with in order or so as, you create structures that clearly state what you want to do or what you intend to do [01:52].
There is an important distinction between the two expressions:
- In order to is more common in casual, everyday communication [02:10].
- So as to tends to appear in written contexts or more formal settings [02:05].
¿How are these expressions used in affirmative sentences?
Here are some practical examples that illustrate purpose and intention [02:20]:
- "John asked me for the stapler in order to bind some papers." The intention is binding the papers.
- "I'll send the email so as to get them notified." The purpose is notifying people.
- "I use Microsoft Word in order to edit documents." [00:48]
Notice how each sentence has a clear action followed by a clear goal. This pattern makes your communication direct and easy to understand.
¿Can you express negative purpose with these structures?
Absolutely. You can add not between the expression and the infinitive to communicate what you want to avoid [02:52]:
- "In order not to make a mess, Julia drinks her coffee in the kitchen." Julia wants to avoid spilling coffee.
- "I have saved the document in the Cloud so as not to lose my progress." The goal is preventing the loss of a file.
The structure is straightforward: place not right before to in both expressions.
¿How can you practice using in order to and so as to?
Filling in missing words is an effective way to reinforce these structures. Consider these practice examples from the lesson:
- "In ______ to call abroad, you have to dial 5 first." The missing word is order [03:38].
- "Click on the link ______ ______ it opens in a new window." The missing words are so that [04:02].
Open-ended sentences also help build fluency. For instance, completing "You should arrive early so as..." can lead to multiple valid answers [04:30]:
- So as not to upset your boss.
- So as to start work on time.
- So as to keep your job safe.
When asked "Why do you have Post-it notes on your desk?" [04:50], possible responses include:
- So as to remind myself of tasks.
- In order to paste them on my computer.
- In order to leave a note for my coworker.
¿Why is this structure useful at work?
Think about the tools you use every day and the tasks you perform. Every tool has a purpose, and every task has an intention behind it. Practicing these expressions with real workplace examples strengthens both your grammar and your ability to explain professional responsibilities clearly.
What tools do you have at work, and why do you use them? Share your answers using in order to and so as to in the comments below.
