So that, in order to

  • B1 · Intermediate
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min
  • purpose

Purpose with in order to + a verb and so that + a clause: Book early in order to save money, and fly midweek so that you get a better seat. From a travel writer's tips for a vacation on a budget to giving your own money-saving travel advice.

Teach this lessonDownload PDF

Free, no card needed. The PDF has every slide, the homework and an answer key.

so thatin order toin order not to

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2In this lesson
  3. 3Reading: seven ways to travel for lessReading comprehension
  4. 4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  5. 5Find the purposesGrammar exercise
  6. 6in order to and so thatGrammar rule
  7. 7What comes next?Grammar exercise
  8. 8Florian's emailGrammar exercise
  9. 9Find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  10. 10Questions for your teacherGrammar exercise
  11. 11Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  12. 12Your town on a budgetSpeaking practice
  13. 13About youGrammar exercise
  14. 14Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: which is right?Grammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: the surprise partyGrammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: build the sentencesGrammar exercise
  4. 4Homework: a careful planDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. Why do people travel? Give two or three reasons.
  2. What do you do to spend less money on a trip?
  3. Do you plan your vacations months ahead, or at the last minute? Why?

Grammar rule

in order to and so that

Saying why: in order to, so that

What comes nextExample
in order toa base verbI water my garden at night in order to use less water.
in order not toa base verbI left my laptop at the office in order not to work on the weekend.
so thata subject + a verbI'll send you the address so that you can find us.
  • in order to = to (A2), but a little more formal or clearer: We came early to help. = We came early in order to help.
  • With in order to, the subject of the sentence does the action. When someone or something else does it, use so that: I left a note so that my husband would know where I was.
  • After so that: the present, can or will for now and the future (so that the room stays warm, so that we can talk); could or would for the past (so that Dad wouldn't see it).
  • Negative: in order not to + verb, or so that + don't / won't / can't (past: didn't, wouldn't, couldn't).
  • In conversation, Americans often say so for so that: Text me when you land so I know you're OK.

Watch out

  • Not for + a verb: for buy tickets → in order to buy tickets (or to buy tickets).
  • A base verb after in order to: in order to saving → in order to save.
  • so that needs a subject: so that save time → so that you save time.
  • A new subject needs so that: in order to my sister can come → so that my sister can come.
  • No comma before so that. With a comma, so gives a result: We got up early, so we caught the first ferry. (= what happened)

Teach it live with video and a whiteboard, or print it: the PDF has every slide, the homework and the answers.

Teach this lesson
← ReviewReview 5 · Lessons 21–25