Infinitive Clauses of Purpose

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We often use an infinitive to talk about a person's purpose.

• He rose to speak.
• She came to the city to look for work.
• He sat down to rest.

We can also use in order to or so as to.

• She came to the city so as to look for work.

So as to and in order to are more common before verbs like be, have, know etc.

• He raised his voice so as to be heard.
• He got up early in order to have enough time to pack.

Before a negative infinitive, we normally use so as or in order.

• I am leaving now so as not to be late. (NOT I am leaving now not to be late.)

See Also

Infinitives
Infinitives: forms
Infinitives without to
To-infinitives
Infinitive with its own subject
For-structures after adjectives
For-structures after verbs
For-structures: other uses
Infinitive clauses of purpose
Verbs that can be followed by infinitives
Adjectives that can be followed by infinitives
Nouns that can be followed by infinitives

See Also

Exclamations
Exclamations exercise
Exclamations: common errors
Common mistakes with pronouns - Part 2
Common errors with adjectives - part 1
Common errors with adjectives - part 2