Complex Sentences with Adverbial Clauses of Purpose

Exercise 1

Analyse the moods of the verbs in bold type and answer the following questions:

1. What moods are used in adverbial clauses of purpose?

2. Is the sequence of tenses observed in adverbial clauses of purpose after the indicative and the oblique moods in the principal clause?

1. Mr. Fox and I hold an open house for all the members of the staff so that the new men can meet everyone else (Wilson)⁹.

2. In the pantry every cup was hung on a hook, every wineglass was lightly wedged in a fitting so that it could dash itself against another wineglass (Bennet).

3. These committees investigate various areas of our national life so that they may gather proper information (Wilson).

4. He turned on the other side so that he might see the reality of the world (O’Henry).

5. I will not make a noise lest I should disturb you (Poutsma).

6. They drove with both windows closed so that the Vicar should not catch cold (Maugham).

7. She took to pronouncing words carefully, lest she say things like “goil” for “girl”…(Smith).¹⁰

8. It means that we all have to get on the ground floor so that everyone starts even (Wilson).

9. Moon kept jerking the table cloth so that it all hung down her side and Sun hadn’t any and then she pretended she didn’t do it on purpose (Mansfield).

10. I’m saving every cent I can out of your pay so that next year both of you will be back in school (Smith).

11. They climbed down the three flights of stairs and crossed the back yard on tiptoe so that the snow would not come up over their rubbers (Saxton).

12. I am coming back to England early this year and would like to meet the girl straight away so that I can marry before the end of the year (Daily Worker).

13. We’d better exhume the body and make our own measurements … so that it may not be so easy for Mason to make any use of the tripod now that he has it (Dreiser).

14. He would have liked to probe into his sole so that he might see in its nakedness the dreadful dismay of the unknown which he suspected (Maugham).

Exercise 2

Make up complex sentences with adverbial clauses of purpose according to the models.

Model 1: Principal Clause Subordinate Clause

Present or future tense forms so that can ]

may ] + non-perfect infinitive

should ]

future tense]

e.g. He will come early so that we can (may, will) discuss the matter with him.

He will come early so that we should not worry.

1. … so that he can …

2. Mary is going to accompany you so that …

3. … so that they should not …

4. The mother told the children to stay indoors so that …

5. … so that they will …

6. The teacher will give you a consultation so that …

7. … so that we may …

8. I am warning you about the danger so that …

9. … so that the students should not …

Model 2: Principal Clause Subordinate Clause

Past tense forms so that could ]

might ] + non-perfect infinitive

should ]

future in the past]

e.g. He came early so that we could (might would) discuss the matter with him.

He came early so that we should not worry.

1. … so that we could …

2. He decided to leave the place at 10 a.m. so that …

3. … so that you should not …

4. I asked the women to come to my place so that …

5. … so that they would …

6. They hurried to the office so that …

7. … so that we might …

8. The teacher told them the marks so that …

9. … so that the children should not …

Exercise 3

Open the brackets using the required form of the verb.

1. They left it in the hall, so that it (not to seem) that they wanted to be asked to play or sing (Maugham).

2. And if necessary strike a light blow so as to stun her – no more – so that, falling in the water, she (to drown) the more easily (Dreiser).

3. “What do you say, De Levis? D’you want everybody in the house knocked up so that their keys (to be tried)? (Galsworthy).

4. They climbed down the three flights of stairs and crossed the back yard on tiptoe so that the snow (not to come up) over their rubbers (Saxton).

5. Judge not that ye (to be) not judged (Carter).

6. At your age I looked for hardship, danger, horror, and death, that I (to feel) the life in me more intensely (Show).

7. Miss Osyth turned and ran, she ran lest she (to be seen) (Bennet).

8. “Of course, there may not be a vacancy, and I don’t want to put another person out of her place that I (to step) into it (Mulhollard).

9. Now here’s a form of receipt I’ve made out and you must get her to sing that so that there (to be) no possible mistake (Priestley).

10. Roberta … finally arranged with her mother to leave in order that she (to help) her more directly with her wages (Dreiser).

11. All insisted on refilling the glasses so that everybody (to drink) to Mrs. Cough’s health, happiness, and prosperity on the fields (Pritchard).

Exercise 4

Translate the sentences into English using adverbial clauses of purpose.

1. Я отказываюсь от приглашения, чтобы провести воскресенье с вами.

2. Они ехали с закрытыми окнами, чтобы сын не простудился.

3. Он отошел в сторону, чтобы всем было видно, что написано на доске.

4. Я ушла в свою комнату, чтобы мне никто не мешал заниматься.

5. Займите места в первом ряду, чтобы лучше слышать оратора.

6. Она сказала, что будет сопровождать их обоих, чтобы ни у кого не было причины жаловаться (по Драйзеру).

7. Позже, чтобы Клайд мог сделать несколько снимков, они пристали к берегу (по Драйзеру).

8. Купите другую, новую шляпу, а эту оставьте на воде. Вы могли бы даже спороть подкладку, чтобы по ней нельзя было установить, кому она принадлежала (по Драйзеру).

9. План Соумса заключается в том, чтобы подождать немного, а затем построить действительно хороший дом, чтобы нам потом не пришлось строить заново (по Голсуорси).

Exercise 5

Classify the subordinate clauses joined by the conjunctions “that” or “so that” into adverbial clauses of purpose or result.¹¹

1. “I put on my hat so that I should not have to come up again” (Maurier).

2. “I wish to God, she'd say something really cheeky”, he raged to himself, “so that I could report her and get her sacked” (Maugham).

3. “Shall we ring so that Thomas can clear these things?” (Priestley).

4. He wished Hayward had been there so that he could ask him what he thought she meant, and what he had better do next (Maugham).

5. I got one of the bags of flour full in my face so that it burst all over my head. By the time I’d cleaned myself up mother was sitting in a corner (Walsh).

6. “I want you to understand that I didn't install her there so that I could make love to her” (Priestley).

7. Oh if it were only another night so that she could take his hands in hers … (Dreiser).

8. A pair of knee duck trousers and an old sweater made him a presentable wheel costume, so that he could go with Ruth on afternoon rides (London).

9. “I sit alone so that I may eat more”, said the Baron peering into the dusk; “My stomach requires a great deal of food” (Mansfield).

10. Swithin was so long over this course that he caused a block in the progress of the dinner (Galsworthy).

11. Thence feeling in a Purcellish mood, he passed to “I attempt from Love’s Sickness to Fly”, with such improvement of spirits that, against all custom, he ran several gallons of cold water into the bath and sponged himself vigorously (Seyers).

12. The thought came to him that an accident would be a piece of luck, so that he could be taken to a hospital and lie there, in a clean bed, for weeks (Maugham).

Exercise 6

Classify the subordinate clauses joined by the conjunctions “lest” and “for fear” into adverbial clauses of purpose and object clauses.¹²

1. He was stricken and withdrew his eyes lest she should read them (Cronin).

2. He trembled daily lest he should hear that the Riblons was proclaimed his second mother-in-law (Thackeray).

3. She feared lest she should be blamed (Smith).

4. Let us leave the house this instant for fear he should ask further questions (Poutsma).

5. I was getting a little worried for fear you didn’t like your son (Smith).

6. … when at last he turned away, hastening for fear he should be late (Cronin).

7. He seemed nervous lest, in thus announcing his intention, he should be setting his grand daughter a bad example (Galsworthy).

8. He might have been a sick man whom it was advisable to humour lest his illness should get the better of him (Bennet).