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Unit 64 · -ing and to …

to ..., for ... and so that ...

Study

A

We say:

›

I called the restaurant to reserve a table.

›

What do you need to make bread?

›

We shouted to warn everybody of the danger.

›

This letter is to confirm the decisions we made at our meeting last week.

›

The president has a team of bodyguards to protect him.

In these examples to … (to reserve … / to make … etc.) tells us the purpose of something: why somebody does something, has something, needs something etc., or why something exists.

B

We say 'a place to park', 'something to eat', 'work to do' etc. :

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It's hard to find a place to park in the city centre. (= a place where you can park)

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Would you like something to eat? (= something that you can eat)

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Do you have much work to do? (= work that you must do)

Sometimes there is a preposition (on, with etc.) after the verb:

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Is there a chair to sit on? (= a chair that I can sit on)

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I get lonely if there's nobody to talk to.

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I need something to open this bottle with.

We also say money/time/chance/opportunity/energy/courage (etc.) to do something:

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They gave us money to buy food.

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Do you have much opportunity to practise your English?

›

I need a few days to think about your proposal.

C

Compare for … and to …

for + noun to + verb
We stopped for petrol. We stopped to get petrol.
I had to run for the bus. I had to run to catch the bus.

You can say 'for somebody to do something':

›

There weren't any chairs for us to sit on, so we sat on the floor.

We use for (do)ing to say what something is used for:

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This brush is for washing the dishes.

But we do not use for -ing to say why somebody does something:

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I went into the kitchen to wash the dishes. (not for washing)

You can use What … for? to ask about purpose:

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What is this switch for? (= what is it used for?)

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What did you do that for? (= why did you do that?)

D

We use so that (not to …) especially with can/could and will/would:

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She's learning English so that she can study in Canada.

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We moved to London so that we could see our friends more often.

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I hurried so that I wouldn't be late. (= because I didn't want to be late)

You can leave out that. So you can say:

›

I hurried so that I wouldn't be late. or I hurried so I wouldn't be late.

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked
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64.1

Choose from Box A and Box B to make sentences with to … .

  1. 1
    I shouted .example
  2. 2
    I opened the box .
  3. 3
    I moved to a new apartment .
  4. 4
    I couldn’t find a knife .
  5. 5
    I called the police .
  6. 6
    I called the hotel .
  7. 7
    I employed an assistant .
64.2

Complete these sentences using to + a suitable verb.

  1. 1
    The president has a team of bodyguards him.example
  2. 2
    I don’t have enough time all the things I have to do.
  3. 3
    I came home by taxi. I didn’t have the energy .
  4. 4
    Would you like something ? Coffee? Tea?
  5. 5
    Can you give me a bag these things in?
  6. 6
    There will be a meeting next week the problem.
  7. 7
    Do you need a visa to the United States?
  8. 8
    I saw Helen at the party, but I didn’t have a chance to her.
  9. 9
    I need some new clothes. I don’t have anything nice .
  10. 10
    They’ve passed their exams. They’re going to have a party .
  11. 11
    I can’t do all this work alone. I need somebody me.
  12. 12
    Why are you so scared? There’s nothing afraid of.
64.3

Put in to or for.

  1. 1
    We stopped petrol.example
  2. 2
    We’ll need time make a decision.
  3. 3
    I went to the dentist a check-up.
  4. 4
    He’s very old. He needs somebody take care of him.
  5. 5
    Can you lend me money a taxi?
  6. 6
    Do you wear glasses reading?
  7. 7
    I put on my glasses read the letter.
  8. 8
    I wish we had a garden the children play in.
64.4

Make one sentence from two, using so that.

  1. 1
    I hurried. I didn’t want to be late.
    I hurried .example
  2. 2
    I wore warm clothes. I didn’t want to get cold.
    I wore warm clothes .
  3. 3
    I gave Mark my phone number. I wanted him to be able to contact me.
    I gave Mark my phone number .
  4. 4
    We spoke very quietly. We didn’t want anybody else to hear us.
    We spoke very quietly .
  5. 5
    Please arrive early. We want to be able to start the meeting on time.
    Please arrive early .
  6. 6
    We made a list of things to do. We didn’t want to forget anything.
    We made a list of things to do .
  7. 7
    I slowed down. I wanted the car behind me to be able to overtake.
    I slowed down .