| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
grouchy
Joined: 25 Apr 2006
Posts: 2
|
 Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 12:21 am Post subject: purpose clause |
 |
|
Hello everyone,
I have a question. When you want to indicate the purpose of an action, you use a purpose clause. "in order that / so that / in order to / so as to / to" are commonly used in purpose clauses.
Now my question is ... Is the following sentence correct? If not, why is it incorrect and how does it sound to you?
She plans to go to France for improving her ability to speak France.
I appreciate your advice in advance.
Oscar the Grouchy |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Mister Micawber
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 774
Location: Yokohama
|
| Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 4:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
.
No, because the purpose clause begins with an inappropriate conjunct (and also the name of the language is 'French').
She plans to go to Paris (in order) to improve her French.
She plans to go to Paris so (that) she can improve her French.
These are some of the standard ways of expressing this. I could make some use of your phrasing:
She plans to go to Paris for the improvement of her French.
But this sounds rather stilted and almost unnatural, at least to me.
.
_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
...............
Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
grouchy
Joined: 25 Apr 2006
Posts: 2
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 3:39 am Post subject: Thank you |
|
|
Mister Micawber,
Thank you for helping me. So this sentence is incorrect. I'm sorry for the mistake. I better re-read my English before posting.
If anyone has any comment concerning this sentence, I'd appreciate it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Harmony
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 140
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 5:05 pm Post subject: Re: Thank you |
|
|
| grouchy wrote: |
Mister Micawber,
Thank you for helping me. So this sentence is incorrect. I'm sorry for the mistake. I better re-read my English before posting. If anyone has any comment concerning this sentence, I'd appreciate it. |
Hi Oscar,
Welcome to the ESL Cafe. 
You asked for comments and I'll be happy to give you mine, but I'm not sure what you're looking for. Although I agree with Mr. M's excellent reply, I'm a bit confused about the reason for your question.
You said,
| Quote: |
| When you want to indicate the purpose of an action, you use a purpose clause. "in order that / so that / in order to / so as to / to" are commonly used in purpose clauses. |
You stated a rule, but then you asked about a sentence that doesn't follow the rule:
| Quote: |
| Is the following sentence correct? If not, why is it incorrect? She plans to go to France for improving her ability to speak France. |
This is what doesn't make sense to me. If you already know the rule, then what is it you want help with? I would think you'd already know that the reason the sentence is incorrect is because it doesn't follow the rule.
I'm wondering if the sentence sounded correct to you and you didn't understand why the rule had been ignored if the sentence really was correct. If this is the problem then I can assure you that the sentence is not grammatically correct and it sounds "wrong" to me as a native speaker of English.
Here's a link to a website with more information about purpose clauses:
http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/cill/eap/2004/u2/purposereasonresultclauses.htm
If you have more questions about this or anything else please don't hesitate to ask. There are many helpful teachers here who will do their best to make sure you get the answers you need.
~ ~ ~ Harmony |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
