You will often need to use purpose, reason and result clauses
in your written and spoken work at university. You use a purpose
clause when you want to state the purpose of the action in the
independent clause. The most common type of purpose clause is a to-
infinitive clause. Sarah went to the computer lab to print out her
research report. Purpose, reason and result clauses
Slide 3
In formal writing, in order to and so as to are used. The
company conducted a detailed survey in order to gauge its clients
views. In formal writing, you can also introduce a purpose clause
with so that or in order that. These finite purpose clauses usually
contain a modal. Dr. Chan adjusted the overhead projector so that
the students would be able to see the chart more clearly. The
lecturer finished his lecture five minutes early so that the
students could come and ask him questions. Purpose, reason and
result clauses
Slide 4
difference between so and so that : so that implies that the
cause was deliberately done by someone in order to get a specific
result. other ways of expressing purpose in English: with a view
to, with the intention of, with the object/aim of, for the purpose
of If you use these phrases, make sure that the verb is in the _ing
form. Purpose, reason and result clauses
Slide 5
other ways of expressing purpose in English: with a view to
with the intention of with the object/aim of for the purpose of If
you use these phrases, make sure that the verb is in the _ing form.
Purpose, reason and result clauses
Slide 6
The university introduced two new English courses with a view
to enhancing students proficiency in the language. In your written
and spoken assignments you will often need to answer the question
Why?. When you want to explain why something happens, you can use a
reason clause introduced by the conjunctions because, as or since.
As she wanted to practise her spoken English, Carrie regularly took
part in the ELCs Big Mouth Corner. Mark joined the English Drama
Club because he wanted to improve his intonation. Purpose, reason
and result clauses
Slide 7
Common mistake Dont use so in sentences beginning with since,
as or because. Here is a common mistake: Since he was interested in
movies, so David joined the PolyU International Film Society.
Purpose, reason and result clauses
Slide 8
Prepositional Phrases You can also use the prepositional
phrases because of on account of to express reason. We were unable
to carry out the experiment on account of a malfunction in the
computer. We were unable to carry out the experiment because the
computer malfunctioned. there are many other ways of indicating
reason and cause in English. Purpose, reason and result
clauses
Slide 9
When you want to indicate the result of an action or situation,
you can use a result clause. Result clauses are introduced by
conjunctions such as so, so... that, or such that. result
clauses
Slide 10
The lecture was boring and irrelevant, so some of the students
began to fall asleep. Peter was having problems with mathematics,
so he went to see his tutor to ask for advice. There were so many
books on the subject that Cindy didnt know where to begin. There
was such a lot of material to cover that Ivan found it difficult to
keep up with his studies. result clauses
Slide 11
Result There are many other ways of talking about the result of
an action or situation. In some situations you may prefer to use
and as a result or with the result that. The lecture was boring and
irrelevant, and as a result some of the students began to fall
asleep. The lecture was boring and irrelevant, with the result that
some of the students began to fall asleep. result clauses
Slide 12
As a result As a result can also be used at the beginning of a
new sentence. The lecture was boring and irrelevant. As a result,
some of the students began to fall asleep. result clauses
Slide 13
Therefore etc. The following words and phrases are used in the
same way. Therefore, Thus, In consequence, Consequently, For
this/that reason result clauses
Slide 14
-ing clauses Causal relations can be expressed by ing-clauses
of result. The government increased the duty on wine. As a result,
there was a fall in demand. The government increased the duty on
wine, resulting in a fall in demand. result clauses
Slide 15
Choose the correct word from the list. Kevin changed his major
from Geography to Business Studies improving his job prospects.
Asso So thatbecause With the result thatin order that With a view
tosuch On account ofso as to exercise
Slide 16
Choose the correct word from the list. Kelvin changed his major
from Geography to Business Studies with a view to improving his job
prospects. Explanation: Kelvin purposely changed his major, so this
sentence has a purpose clause. The word following the gap is
improving, an _ing word. There is a list of words above that you
could use in this gap, but the only phrase in the drop-down box
from the list is with a view to. exercise
Slide 17
Dr Leung arranged some extra tutorials give her students more
opportunities to ask questions before the examination. Asso So
thatbecause With the result thatin order that With a view tosuch On
account ofso as to exercise
Slide 18
Dr Leung arranged some extra tutorials so as to give her
students more opportunities to ask questions before the
examination. Answer: to is also correct! Explanation: This is a
sentence with a purpose clause. The answer cannot be so that or in
order that because the following word, give, is a verb. It cannot
be with a view to, with the intention of, with the object/aim of,
or for the purpose of because give is not an _ing verb.
exercise
Slide 19
A key piece of equipment broke down the laboratory session had
to be cancelled. Asso So thatbecause With the result thatin order
that With a view tosuch On account ofso as to exercise
Slide 20
A key piece of equipment broke down so/with the result that the
laboratory session had to be cancelled. Explanation: This is a
sentence with a result clause. The answer cannot be so that because
a piece of equipment cannot purposely decide to break down.
exercise
Slide 21
. Tony has a very good foundation in English, he had little
difficulty in passing the examination. Asso So thatbecause With the
result thatin order that With a view tosuch On account ofso as to
exercise
Slide 22
As / Because Tony has a very good foundation in English, he had
little difficulty in passing the examination. Explanation: This is
a sentence with a reason clause. The answer cannot be on account
of, as this should be followed by a noun phrase, not a clause. It
would be correct to write, 'On account of Tony's very good
foundation in English, he had little difficulty in passing the
examination.' as Tony's very good foundation in English is a noun
phrase. Another possible answer is 'on account of Tony having a
very good...' exercise
Slide 23
Professor Li repeated the point in Cantonese . the students
would fully understand. Asso So thatbecause With the result thatin
order that With a view tosuch On account ofso as to exercise
Slide 24
Professor Li repeated the point in Cantonese so / so that / in
order that the students would fully understand. Explanation: This
is a sentence with a purpose clause. So is correct because it means
therefore in this example. Both so that and in order that show that
Professor Li's purpose was to help the students understand. The
answer cannot be to, because the word after the gap is not a verb.
It would be correct to write 'Professor Li repeated the point in
Cantonese to make sure / ensure that the students would fully
understand. exercise
Slide 25
David was .. busy with his final-year project that he was
unable to take part in extra-curricular activities. Asso So
thatbecause With the result thatin order that With a view tosuch On
account ofso as to exercise
Slide 26
David was so busy with his final-year project that he was
unable to take part in extra-curricular activities. Explanation:
This is a sentence with a result clause. So matches with the that
after project and can define busy. Such is wrong because such busy
cannot go together. Such can be followed by a noun phrase; e.g.
David was such a busy person that he was unable to take part in
extra-curricular activities. exercise
Slide 27
It was .. a successful lecture series that the English Language
Centre decided to repeat it the following semester. Asso So
thatbecause With the result thatin order that With a view tosuch On
account ofso as to exercise
Slide 28
It was such a successful lecture series that the English
Language Centre decided to repeat it the following semester.
Explanation: This is a sentence with a result clause. Such can be
followed by a noun phrase; e.g. a successful lecture series. It is
part of the phrase such...that. exercise
Slide 29
The examination had to be postponed the typhoon. Asso So
thatbecause With the result thatin order that With a view tosuch On
account ofso as to exercise
Slide 30
The examination had to be postponed on account of the typhoon.
Explanation: This is a sentence with a reason clause. Because is
wrong unless you write of after it; i.e. because of the typhoon. It
would also be correct to write 'The examination had to be postponed
due to the typhoon.' exercise
Slide 31
Amy joined the English Club .. she wanted to increase her
circle of friends. Asso So thatbecause With the result thatin order
that With a view tosuch On account ofso as to exercise
Slide 32
Amy joined the English Club as / because she wanted to increase
her circle of friends. Explanation: This is a sentence with a
reason clause. Because of and on account of are wrong because they
are not followed by clauses, but by noun phrases; e.g. 'Amy joined
the English Club because of her desire to increase her circle of
friends. exercise