Grammar Time! Infinitive of Purpose

Eat Sleep Dreamers welcome to my brand new series. Grammar Time!

Give me one reason that you are learning English.

To travel around the world. To give a presentation at work. Or to have a chat with Prince Harry.

Did you notice how each sentence began? The first one, to travel. Second one, to give

a presentation. The third one, to have a chat. Now you have to and then the infinitive verb.

So when we want to give the reason for our action we use to and then the infinitive.

This is called the infinitive of purpose and we use it when we want to say why we are doing

something. So 'I'm learning English to get a new job'. So, why am I learning English?

Here's the reason, to get a new job. So take another example, why do people go to the gym?

There are loads of reasons, right? To lose weight, to get stronger, to get fitter, so

many reasons. Again we are using the infinitive of purpose to say why people go to the gym.

Here are two more examples. 'Hi I'm just calling to say I'm sorry. Sorry.' So there we've got

the action, I'm calling and then the reason why you are calling to say sorry. 'Hi I bought

these flowers to cheer you up.' So we've got the action I bought these flowers and then

the reason, to cheer you up. So to make them feel better, to make them feel happier. Let's

look at other ways to express the reasons for doing things. Let's pretend that we are

in a car and we are driving somewhere and someone says 'let's stop to get food.' So

the action is stop and the reason is to get food. Now we can also say that with for, let's

try that. So 'Let's stop for food.' Now the pattern here is with to we have to and then

the verb again. So to and then the infinitive, to get food. But with for we are using it

with a noun, let's stop for food. So for plus the noun is the same as to plus the infinitive.

We are giving reasons why we want to do something. Alright, let's think of another example. 'I'm

just going to the shop for milk, do you want anything?' Ok, so there we've got the action.

I'm going to the shop and the reason, for milk. That's the reason. Now milk is a noun,

for plus noun, for milk. We can also of course say that with the infinitive so 'I'm just

going to shop to get some milk.' So to plus the infinitive is the reason to get milk or

to get some milk. So in this context both have exactly the same meaning. They are giving

the reason why we are doing the action. Alright, so an alternative to the infinitive of purpose

is to say so that, so that. I use this one quite a lot and you use it with can and could

particularly. For example 'why do people go to the gym?' So that they can lose weight.

So, so that they can lose weight. So you are giving the reason at the end there. So that

they can lose weight. Why am I learning English? So that I can get a new job. Why am I learning

English, so that I can get a new job. So that's a really nice alternative to using the infinitive

of purpose. If we are talking about a negative situation we'd use so that and then won't

and wouldn't for example. 'Take your jumper so that you won't be cold.' So here's the

action, take your jumper and the reason so that you won't be cold. That's the reason

why your taking your jumper. So again we are giving purpose, we are giving reason. 'I studied

really hard so that I wouldn't fail my exam.' So again the action, I studied really hard.

Why did i study really hard, so that I wouldn't fail. Giving reason why I studied hard. So

there, you've got the action, the reason and it's because we are using it in the negative

form, I wouldn't, we're saying so that wouldn't and then the reason. If you want to talk about

the general purpose of something you can use for plus the -ing or to infinitive. So 'I

use a tooth brush for cleaning my teeth.' or 'I use a tooth brush to clean my teeth.'

So either is fine, if it's a general purpose of why we use something. For plus the -ing

or to plus the infinitive. What do you use your phone for? I use it for texting people,

I use it for calling people. Or you might say I use it to call people, I use it to text

people. Either one is absolutely fine. If it's talking about the general purpose and

the general reasons why we use something. Ok, and finally three more really quick phrases

you can use to give reasons for doing things. So let's go back to our studying English.

So why do you study English? Well, 'I study English in order to pass my IELTS.' So in

order to and then the infinitive, pass my IELTS or get a new job or travel the world.

So in order to and then the infinitive. You can also say so as to. So 'I'm studying English

so as to pass my exam.' So as to infinitive pass my exam. Finally you can also just say

because. I'm studying English because I love it. Or 'I'm studying English because I want

to travel the world.' Because is a great word to use to give reasons for doing things. So

you've got three new phrases there. In order to, so as to, because.

Alright, so in the comments below I'd love you guys to tell me why you are learning English.

And you can use any of the phrases we've looked at today. You could use the infinitive of

purpose, you could use in order to, so as to, because, for and then -ing. Whatever form

you want to use, use it, practise and I'll check out the comments later. So tell me why

you are learning English. Alright guys, thank you so much for watching as always. Remember

I've got new videos every Tuesday and every Friday teaching you fresh modern British English

so that you can take your English to the next level and achieve your life goals. This is

Tom, the Chief Dreamer, saying goodbye.