Unit 64. То ..., for... and so that... (purpose)
Unit 64; Part A

• 'Why are you going 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 (= its purpose):
• This wall is to keep people out of the garden.
• The president has a team of bodyguards to protect him.
Unit 64; Part B

• It's difficult to find a place to park in the 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.
• I need something to open this bottle with.
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.
Unit 64; Part C

Compare:
for + noun | to + verb |
• I'm going to Spain for a holiday. | • I'm going to Spain to learn Spanish. (not for learn, not for learning) |
• What would you like for dinner? • Let's go to the pool for a swim. | • What would you like to eat? • Let's go to the pool to have a swim. |
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 or to ... to talk about the general purpose of something, or what it is generally used for:
• Do you use this brush for washing the dishes? (or ... to wash the dishes?)
You can use What ... for? to ask about purpose:
• What is this switch for?
• What did you do that for?
Unit 64; Part D

Sometimes you have to use so that for purpose.
We use so that (not to ...) especially 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.
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 see our friends more often.
Exercises
![]() | Unit 63 Unit 64 Unit 65 | ![]() |