Infinitives of Purpose

In Your opinion, are electronic organizers useful? Does this electronic organizer look
easy to use?
Read the ad for an electronic pocket organizer.
Datalator 534 F
Electronic Talking Dictionary/ Organizer ($ 89.95)

*Are you still using pencil and paper to make notes?

*reference books to find basic information?
If so, you need to start using the DATALATOR to organize your studies and save
time. Use it

* to make study notes;

* to listen to pronunciation of basic conversational English, Chinese, Japanese,
French, and German;
* to take practice tests for the TOEFL while you wait for the bus;
* to look up words in the built-in dictionary (and listen to the correct pronunciation.)
* to check your class schedule;
* to download information from the datalator to your computer.

Of course, you can also use it to store names and phone numbers, and to add and
subtract.
Available at all Lacy’s Department Stores.
To locate the one nearest you,
Call 1 800 555- LACY or visit our webite at www.lacy.com.

Observe:
AFF- I borrowed her car to go to Lacy’s.
I left at 9:00 (in order) to arrive early.

NEG- I left at 9:00 in order not to arrive late.

Notes
1- Use an infinitive (to+base form of the verb) to explain the purpose of an action. It
often answers the question Why?
A: Why did you go to Lacy’s?
B: I went there to buy one of those Datalators I saw in an ad. Or To buy an electronic
organizer.
USAGE- In spoken English, you can answer the question Why? With an incomplete
sentence beginning with To. To buy an electronic organizer.
2- You can also use the longer form in order to+ base form of the verb to explain a
purpose.
I bought an organizer in order to store names and phone numbers.
To+ base form of the verb is more common in informal speech and writing.
I bought an organizer to store names and phone numbers.
3- Use in order not to + base formo f the verb to express a negative purpose.
I use my Datalator in order not to make mistakes in pronunciation. ( I don’t want to
make mistakes.)
4- You can also use:
Noun/pronoun + infinitive to express the purpose of an object.
I need an organizer to help me remember my schedule.
I need it to help me remember my schedule.
ACTIVITIES
1- Read the conversation. Underline all the infinitives that express a purpose.
Yoko: It’s 5:00. Aren’t you going home?
Lee: No. I’m staying late to finish this report. What about you? Are you going straight
home?
Yoko: No. I’m going to stop at the bank to get some cash. Then I’m going to Lacy’s
Department Store to take Advantage of the sale they’re having.
Lee: Oh, what are you going to get?
Yoko: One of those new electronic organizers they’re advertising. I’ve been looking for
something to help me with my work.
Lee: What’s wrong with jut a regular calculator?
Yoko: Nothing. But sometimes I have to convert other currencies to dollars.
Lee: What else are you going to use it for?
Yoko: Oh, to store importante names and phone numbers and to balance my checkbook.
Lee: What did we do before they invented all these electronic gadgets?
Yoko: We made a loto f mistakes!
2- Look at Yoko’s listo f to do things. Then write a frase to answer each question.

To do
- get gas
- make dental appointment
- buy batteries
- withdraw $ 100
- invite Rika and Taro to dinner
- buy milk and eggs
1- Why did she call Dr. Towbin’s office? To make a dental appointment.
2- Why did she go to the bank? To withdraw R$100,00
3- Why did she call Mrs. Watanabe? To make dental appointment
4- Why did she go to the supermarket? To make by milk and eggs
5- Why did she go to the electronic store? To buy batteries
6- Why did she go to the servisse station? To get gas

3- Match each action with its purpose.

Action
__G__ 1. He enrolled in Chinese101 because he...
___B_ 2. She took a bus because she...
_F___3. She went to the store because she ...
__A__ 4. We disconnected our phone because we ...
__D__ 5. He turned on the radio because he ...
__E__ 6. He didn’t tell me he was sick because he ...
___C_ 7. She bought a Datalator because she...
Purpose
a. didn’t want to get any phone calls.
b. didn’t want to be late.
c. wanted to store information.
d. wanted to listen to the news.
e. didn’t want to worry me.
f. needed to buy some dishes.
g. wanted to learn the language.
Now combine the sentences. Use the infinitive of purpose.
1- He enrolled in Chinese 101 to learn the language.
2- She took a bus didn’t to be late
3- She went to the store to buy some dishes
4- We disconnected our phone didn’t to get any phone calls.
5- He turned on the radio to listen to the news
6- He didn’t tell me he was sick didn’t to worry me.
7- She bought a Datalator to store information

4- Read Yoko’ jornal entry. Find and correct six mitakes of the infinitive of
purpose. The first mitake is already corrected.
I went to Dr. Towbin for getting to get my teeth cleaned today. While I was waiting, I
used my Datalator to study for the TOEFL. Then I used it to helps me pronounce
“novocaine” and “dental flo” to my appointment. After the dentist, I checked my
schedule and saw “Rita and Taro, dinner, 7:30.” I should use it in order not to forget
appointments! Luckily, my recipes to already on the Datalator, so I used them to make a
quick shopping list. When I got home, there was a note on my door- “Call bldg. Super.”
I checked the Datalator dictionary to find “bldg.super.” The “building superintendente”
wanted to come up in order fix the doorbell! Rika and Taro and I played with the
Datalator all evening. You can program it to play computer game, too. I don’t know
how I lived without it!