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Grammaire
Clauses and linking A2 B1

Purpose and result patterns

Show goals and outcomes with infinitives, for, so that, too, enough, so, and such.

Traduction des explications en cours…
Pour le moment, la leçon originale en anglais s’affiche.
Guide visuel

Purpose or result: target vs footprint

ONE ARROW, TWO READINGS

PURPOSE = target you aim at (wanted)
  action -> target
  to / in order to: We left early in order to avoid traffic.
  for = intended use: This knife is for cutting bread.
  so that = target in a full sentence:
    We spoke quietly so that the baby wouldn't wake up.

RESULT = footprint left behind (happened)
  situation -> effect
  so = effect link: It rained, so we stayed home.
  so/such ... that = strong cause -> effect:
    It was such a cold day that we stayed inside.

LIMIT = can the arrow reach?
  too = over the limit -> no:
    The box is too heavy for me to lift.
  enough = reaches the limit -> yes:
    We have enough time to stop for coffee.

Ask: am I naming the target I wanted, or the footprint that actually happened?

Introduction

Goals and outcomes

Purpose and result patterns connect an action with either a goal or an outcome. Purpose is intentional: someone does something in order to reach a goal. Result is caused: something is so strong, big, late, or enough that another thing happens or becomes possible. Grammar level: A2–B1. Vocabulary level: everyday, reusable words. The main purpose tools are to, for, and so that. The main result tools are so, such, too, and enough. The most important skill is choosing the bridge that matches the relationship: goal before it happens, or outcome after it happens.
Cognitive metaphor

Target or footprint

Think of purpose as an arrow aimed at a target, and result as a footprint left by a situation. In a purpose sentence, the first action points toward a planned target; the target may or may not happen. In a result sentence, a quality or amount leaves an effect. This picture prevents a common problem: do not choose a linker only because the single word looks familiar. Ask first: Is this a goal? Use purpose patterns. Is this an effect of degree, amount, or situation? Use result patterns.
Core pattern

Purpose with to and for

Use to + base verb after an action when the same subject has the goal. The clearer formal frame is in order to + verb. For a negative goal, use not to or in order not to. Use for when the purpose is a noun, an -ing activity, or another person's action. For example, for my laptop shows a noun purpose, for cutting bread shows an activity, and for Sam to read shows another person's intended action. Do not use for before a base verb to show purpose; use to + base verb instead.
Core Grammaire A2 Vocabulaire A2 Neutral

We left early in order to avoid traffic.

Use in order to for a clear or slightly formal goal.

Unités de sens

Lisez la phrase par unités de sens, pas mot à mot.

We left early
main_clause
The action taken.
in order to avoid traffic
purpose_infinitive
A clear purpose phrase with in order to + base verb.
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Negative Grammaire B1 Vocabulaire A2 Neutral

I wrote it down in order not to forget it.

For negative purpose, use not to or in order not to.

Unités de sens

Lisez la phrase par unités de sens, pas mot à mot.

I wrote it down
main_clause
The action taken.
in order not to forget it
negative_purpose
A negative purpose: the goal is to prevent something.
À apprendre comme une unité
Core Grammaire A2 Vocabulaire A1 Neutral

This bag is for my laptop.

Use for when the purpose is a noun.

Unités de sens

Lisez la phrase par unités de sens, pas mot à mot.

This bag
thing
The object being described.
is for my laptop
purpose_for_noun
For + noun shows intended use or destination.
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Core Grammaire A2 Vocabulaire A1 Neutral

This knife is for cutting bread.

Use for + -ing, not for + base verb.

Unités de sens

Lisez la phrase par unités de sens, pas mot à mot.

This knife
thing
The object being described.
is for cutting bread
purpose_for_ing
For + -ing shows an intended activity.
À apprendre comme une unité
Core Grammaire B1 Vocabulaire A1 Neutral

I left a note for Sam to read.

This pattern is useful when the intended action belongs to another person.

Unités de sens

Lisez la phrase par unités de sens, pas mot à mot.

I left a note
main_clause
The action taken.
for Sam to read
intended_actor
For + person + to + verb shows who should do the later action.
À apprendre comme une unité
Mistake Grammaire A2 Vocabulaire A1 Neutral

I came for see you.

Do not use for before a base verb to show purpose.

Corrected Grammaire A2 Vocabulaire A1 Neutral

I came to see you.

Use to + base verb after an action when the same person has the goal.

Unités de sens

Lisez la phrase par unités de sens, pas mot à mot.

I came
main_clause
The action taken.
to see you
purpose_infinitive
To + base verb shows the purpose of coming.
À apprendre comme une unité
Core pattern

Purpose clauses with so that

Use so that + subject + verb when the goal needs its own clause, especially with can, will, could, or would. It is very useful when the subject changes or when you want to prevent something. This pattern can show ability, permission, future possibility, or a planned non-event. In speech, that is often omitted after so when the meaning is purpose, but the full so that form is clearer for learners. So that is often better than a simple infinitive with a different subject, a modal verb, or a negative goal.
Negative Grammaire B1 Vocabulaire A1 Neutral

We spoke quietly so that the baby wouldn't wake up.

So that is very natural when the purpose includes a different subject and a negative modal.

Unités de sens

Lisez la phrase par unités de sens, pas mot à mot.

We spoke quietly
main_clause
The action taken to reach the goal.
so that the baby wouldn't wake up
purpose_clause
So that + clause gives the intended prevented result.
À apprendre comme une unité
Question Grammaire A2 Vocabulaire A1 Neutral

Can you move so that I can see?

Questions often use so that to explain why the request is being made.

Unités de sens

Lisez la phrase par unités de sens, pas mot à mot.

Can you move
request
The requested action.
so that I can see
purpose_clause
So that + subject + can shows the goal of the request.
À apprendre comme une unité
Spoken Grammaire A2 Vocabulaire A2 Informal

I saved the receipt so I can return the shirt.

So can mean so that in informal purpose clauses, especially with can or could.

Unités de sens

Lisez la phrase par unités de sens, pas mot à mot.

I saved the receipt
main_clause
The action taken.
so I can return the shirt
purpose_clause_spoken
In speech, that is often omitted after so when the meaning is purpose.
À apprendre comme une unité
Contrast

So is result; so that is purpose

The closest everyday confusion is so vs so that. Use so for a result that happened; use so that for a purpose someone intended. It rained, so we stayed home. We stayed home so that we could rest. The first sentence says the rain caused the decision; the second says resting was the goal of staying home. A second useful contrast is to vs for: to normally introduces a following base verb for a goal, while for introduces a noun, an -ing activity, or a person plus infinitive. Do not reduce every purpose idea to one word.
Contrast Grammaire A2 Vocabulaire A1 Neutral

It rained, so we stayed home.

Here so means therefore; it gives the result of the rain.

Unités de sens

Lisez la phrase par unités de sens, pas mot à mot.

It rained
cause
The cause or situation.
so we stayed home
result_clause
So introduces a result, not an intended purpose.
À apprendre comme une unité
Contrast Grammaire A2 Vocabulaire A1 Neutral

We stayed home so that we could rest.

This sentence gives the purpose of staying home, not the cause.

Unités de sens

Lisez la phrase par unités de sens, pas mot à mot.

We stayed home
main_clause
The action chosen.
so that we could rest
purpose_clause
So that introduces the intended goal of the action.
À apprendre comme une unité
Core pattern

Result with so and such

Use so + adjective or adverb + that-clause to show a strong degree and its result. Use such + noun phrase + that-clause when the strong idea is packaged inside a noun phrase. For a singular count noun, use such a or such an. In informal speech, that is often omitted, but the full form is clearer for learners. For amount words, use so many, so much, so few, or so little before a noun. Very does not normally introduce a result clause by itself; use so when a that-clause gives the result.
Core Grammaire B1 Vocabulaire A2 Neutral

The film was so funny that I cried.

Use so with an adjective or adverb before a result clause.

Unités de sens

Lisez la phrase par unités de sens, pas mot à mot.

so funny
degree
So intensifies the adjective.
so funny that I cried
result_frame
So + adjective + that-clause shows a strong degree and its result.
À apprendre comme une unité
Core Grammaire B1 Vocabulaire A1 Neutral

It was such a cold day that we stayed inside.

Use such before a noun phrase, including a/an with a singular count noun.

Unités de sens

Lisez la phrase par unités de sens, pas mot à mot.

such a cold day
noun_phrase
Such modifies the whole noun phrase.
such a cold day that we stayed inside
result_frame
Such + noun phrase + that-clause shows a strong quality and its result.
À apprendre comme une unité
Mistake Grammaire B1 Vocabulaire A1 Neutral

It was very cold that we stayed inside.

Very does not normally introduce a that-clause of result by itself.

Corrected Grammaire B1 Vocabulaire A1 Neutral

It was so cold that we stayed inside.

Use so, not very, before this kind of result clause.

Unités de sens

Lisez la phrase par unités de sens, pas mot à mot.

so cold that we stayed inside
degree_result
So + adjective + that-clause gives the result of the strong degree.
À apprendre comme une unité
Core pattern

Limits with too and enough

Too and enough show a boundary. Too + adjective/adverb + to + verb means the degree is beyond the limit, so the action cannot or should not happen. You can add for someone before the infinitive when needed. Adjective/adverb + enough + to + verb means the degree reaches the needed level. With nouns, enough comes before the noun; with adjectives and adverbs, enough comes after. The negative form not enough is very common when the needed level or amount is not reached.
Core Grammaire A2 Vocabulaire A1 Neutral

The box is too heavy for me to lift.

Too usually means more than the useful or possible limit.

Unités de sens

Lisez la phrase par unités de sens, pas mot à mot.

The box
thing
The thing being described.
too heavy for me to lift
too_limit
Too + adjective + for someone + to shows a limit that blocks the action.
À apprendre comme une unité
Core Grammaire A2 Vocabulaire A1 Neutral

The room is quiet enough to study in.

Enough comes after adjectives and adverbs.

Unités de sens

Lisez la phrase par unités de sens, pas mot à mot.

The room
thing
The thing being described.
quiet enough to study in
enough_limit
Adjective + enough + to shows the needed level is reached.
À apprendre comme une unité
Core Grammaire A2 Vocabulaire A1 Neutral

We have enough time to stop for coffee.

With nouns, enough comes before the noun.

Unités de sens

Lisez la phrase par unités de sens, pas mot à mot.

We have
main_clause
Introduces the amount available.
enough time to stop for coffee
enough_noun
Enough comes before a noun and can be followed by to + verb.
À apprendre comme une unité
Negative Grammaire A2 Vocabulaire A1 Neutral

We don't have enough chairs for everyone to sit down.

Not enough means the needed level or amount is not reached.

Unités de sens

Lisez la phrase par unités de sens, pas mot à mot.

We don't have
negative_amount
Shows the amount is insufficient.
enough chairs for everyone to sit down
enough_noun_for_person
Enough + noun + for someone + to shows whether the amount reaches the needed level.
À apprendre comme une unité
Usage rules

How to choose the pattern

Practical choice rules: If the second part is a goal of the first action and the subject stays the same, start with to or in order to. If the goal needs another subject, ability, permission, or prevention, use so that. If the purpose is an object, activity, or intended user, use for. If the second part is an effect of degree, use so or such. If the key idea is a limit, use too or enough. Be careful with punctuation: a result with so often has a comma before so in writing; purpose so that usually does not need a comma.
Summary

Quick map

Purpose patterns answer 'What was the goal?' Result patterns answer 'What was the outcome?' The reusable purpose chunks are to + base verb, in order to + base verb, for + noun, for + -ing, for + person + to + verb, and so that + clause. The reusable result and limit chunks are so + adjective/adverb + that, such + noun phrase + that, too + adjective/adverb + to, adjective/adverb + enough + to, and enough + noun. When unsure, test the meaning first. Planned target: purpose. Caused effect or reached limit: result.
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