目的：in order to / so that

表达目的——某人为什么做某事——英语有好几种说法。关键看后面接什么：动词、从句（主语 + 动词）还是名词。

💡一个非常常见的错误是用 for + 动词 表示目的（I came here for learn English）。后面是动词时要用 to / in order to：I came here to learn English。for 后面接名词：I came here for the course。

1. to + 动词——最常用的说法，口语里尤其如此

• I called the shop to check if they had my size.

  我给店里打电话，问问有没有我的尺码。

• Why are you learning English? — To get a better job.

  你为什么学英语？——为了找份更好的工作。

2. in order to / so as to——强调目的，更正式。常用于书面语、工作邮件和演讲；so as to 还要更正式一点。

• Minh moved to Hanoi in order to find work.

  阿明为了找工作搬到了河内。

• Staff must wear gloves so as to protect their hands.

  员工必须戴手套，以保护双手。

3. 否定：in order not to / so as not to + 动词——not 放在 to 前面。

• I set two alarms in order not to miss my flight.

  为了不误航班，我设了两个闹钟。

• She whispered so as not to wake her parents.

  她压低声音说话，免得吵醒爸妈。

💡只用 not to 表示目的听起来很别扭（I left early not to miss the bus）。要说 so as not to、in order not to 或 so that … won't / wouldn't。

后面接主语 + 动词时用 so that——尤其是目的涉及别人，或者需要用 can / will 的时候。现在或将来的目的 → can、will（或一般现在时）；过去的目的 → could、would。

• I'll send you a map so that you can find the house easily.

  我会给你发张地图，这样你就能轻松找到那栋房子。

• Take an umbrella so that you don't get wet.

  带把伞，免得淋湿。

• Dad bought a bigger car so that we could travel together.

  爸爸买了一辆大一点的车，这样我们就可以一起出去玩了。（过去 → could）

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

  我们小声说话，免得吵醒宝宝。（过去 → wouldn't）

在随意的口语里可以省略 that：Speak up so everyone can hear。不要和表示结果的 , so（所以）混淆：I was tired, so I went to bed.——这不是目的。

要说某人或某物必须做这个动作，用 in order for + 人 / 物 + to + 动词（正式）：In order for the plan to work, everyone has to help.

• We stopped for petrol. = We stopped to get petrol.

  我们停下来加油。

• This app is for booking train tickets.

  这个应用是用来订火车票的。（某物的用途）

• ✗I came here for learn English.

  ✓I came here to learn English.

  后面是动词的目的 → to + 动词，不用 for。

• ✗She works two jobs for paying her rent.

  ✓She works two jobs to pay / in order to pay her rent.

  for + -ing 说明某物的用途，不说明人为什么做某事。

• ✗Speak slowly so that everyone understand.

  ✓Speak slowly so that everyone can understand.

  so that + 主语 + can/will…

• ✗We left at 5 a.m. so as not miss the boat.

  ✓We left at 5 a.m. so as not to miss the boat.

  完整的短语是 so as not to + 动词。

• ✗Yesterday we took a taxi so that we can arrive on time.

  ✓Yesterday we took a taxi so that we could arrive on time.

  过去 → could。

• ✗I left early not to miss the bus.

  ✓I left early so as not to / in order not to miss the bus.

  只用 not to 表示目的听起来很别扭。