A. We
use to ... to say why somebody does something (= the purpose of an action):
* 'Why
did you go out?' 'To post a letter.'
* A
friend of mine phoned to invite me to a party.
* We
shouted to warn everybody of the danger.
We use
to... to say why something exists or why somebody has/wants/needs something:
* This
wall is to keep people out of the garden.
* The
President has a team of bodyguards to protect him.
* I need
a bottle opener to open this bottle.
B. We
use to ... to say what can be done or must be done with something:
* It's
difficult to find a place to park in the city centre. (= a place where you can
park)
* Would
you like something to eat?
* Have
you got much work to do? (= work that you must do)
* I get
lonely if there's nobody to talk to.
Also:
money/time/chance/opportunity/energy/courage etc. to (do something):
* They
gave us some money to buy some food.
* Do you
have much opportunity to practise your English?
* I need
a few days to think about your proposal.
C. For
... and to ...
Compare:
* I'm
going to Spain for a holiday.
but I'm
going to Spain to learn Spanish. (not 'for learn Spanish', not 'for learning
Spanish')
We use
for + noun (for a holiday) but to + verb (to learn). Some more examples:
* What
would you like for dinner?
but What
would you like to eat? (not 'for eat')
* Let's
go to the pool for a swim.
but
Let's go to the pool to have a swim.
Note
that you can say ... for (somebody) to (do something):
* There
weren't any chairs for us to sit on, so we had to sit on the floor.
You can
use for ~ing to say what the general purpose of a thing is. To... is also
possible:
* This
knife is only for cutting bread. (or ... to cut bread.)
You can
use What ... for? to ask about purpose:
* What
is this switch for?
* What
did you do that for?
D. So
that
Sometimes you have to use so that for purpose. We use so that (not to
...):
i) when
the purpose is negative (so that ... won't/wouldn't):
* I
hurried so that I wouldn't be late. (= because I didn't want to be late)
* Leave
early so that you won't (or don't) miss the bus.
ii) with
can and could (so that ... can/could)
* She's
learning English so that she can study in Canada.
* We
moved to London so that we could visit our friends more often.
iii)
when one person does something so that another person does something else:
* I gave
her my address so that she could contact me.
* He
wore glasses and a false beard so that nobody would recognize him.
EXERCISES
63.1 Use
a sentence from Box A and a sentence from Box B to make a new sentence.
A
1. I
shouted
2. I had
to go to the bank
3. I'm
saving money
4. I
went into hospital
5. I'm
wearing two pullovers
6. I
phoned the police station
B
I want to
keep warm
I wanted
to report that my car had been stolen
I want
to go to Canada
I had to
have an operation
I needed
to get some money
I wanted
to warn people of danger
1. _I
shouted to warn people of the danger._
2. I had
to go to the bank ---
3. I ---
4. ---
5. ---
6. ---
63.2
Complete these sentences using a suitable verb.
1. The
President has a team of bodyguards _to protect_ him.
2. I
didn't have enough time --- the newspaper today.
3. I
came home by taxi. I didn't have the energy ---
4.
'Would you like something ---?' 'Yes, please. A cup of coffee.'
5. We
need a bag --- these things in.
6. There
will be a meeting next week --- the problem.
7. I
wish we had enough money --- a new car.
8. I saw
Helen at the party but we didn't have a chance --- to each other.
9. I
need some new clothes. I haven't got anything nice ---
10.
They've just passed their exams. They're having a party ---
11. I
can't do all this work alone. I need somebody --- me.
63.3 Put
in to or for.
1. I'm
going to Spain _for_ a holiday.
2. You
need a lot of experience --- this job.
3. You
need a lot of experience --- do this job.
4. We'll
need more time --- make a decision.
5. I
went to the dentist --- a check-up.
6. I had
to put on my glasses --- read the letter.
7. Do
you wear glasses --- reading?
8. I
wish we had a garden --- the children --- play in.
63.4
Write sentences with so that.
1. I
hurried. I didn't want to be late.
_I hurried
so that I wouldn't be late._
2. We
wore warm clothes. We didn't want to get cold.
We wore
---
3. The
man spoke very slowly. He wanted me to understand what he said.
The man
---
4. I
whispered. I didn't want anybody else to here our conversation.
---
nobody ---
5.
Please arrive early. We want to be able to start the meeting on time.
Please
---
6. She
locked the door. She didn't want to be disturbed.
---
7. I
slowed down. I wanted the car behind to be able to overtake.
---
Answer
63.1
2 I had
to go to the bank to get some money.
3 I'm
saving money to go to Canada.
4 I went
into hospital to have an operation.
5 I'm
wearing two pullovers to keep warm.
6 I
phoned the police station to report that my car had been stolen.
63.2
2 to
read
3 to
walk or to go on foot
4 to
drink
5 to put
I to carry
6 to
discuss/to consider/to talk about
7 to
buy/to get
8 to
talk/to speak
9 to
wear/to put on
10 to
celebrate
11 to
help I to assist
63.3
2
for 3 to
4 to
5
for 6 to
7 for
8 for
... to
63.4
2 We
wore warm clothes so that we wouldn't get cold.
3 The
man spoke very slowly so that I would understand what he said. or ... so that I
could understand ...
4 I
whispered so that nobody else could hear our conversation. or ... would hear
our conversation.
5 Please
arrive early so that we can start the meeting on time.
6 She
locked the door so that she wouldn't be disturbed.
7 I
slowed down so that the car behind could overtake.
