Saying why you did it and what came of it

Examples

1. We wrote twice so as to have it on record.

2. The letter was so badly worded that nobody understood it.

3. It was such a long delay that we cancelled the order.

4. Nobody was told, with the result that two teams did the same work.

Common mistakes

• ✗Wrong: It was so a long delay that we cancelled.

  ✓Right: It was such a long delay that we cancelled.

  such goes before a noun phrase; so before an adjective alone.

• ✗Wrong: We rang early so as to not miss him.

  ✓Right: We rang early so as not to miss him.

  The negative goes before to.

• ✗Wrong: We wrote twice for to have it on record.

  ✓Right: We wrote twice so as to have it on record.

  for to is not English; use so as to or in order to.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

   1. AI left early in order to catch the four o’clock.
   2. BI left early in order that to catch it.
   3. CI left early for to catch the four o’clock.
   4. DI left early in order catching the four o’clock.
   Show answer

   Answer: A I left early in order to catch the four o’clock.

   in order to plus the infinitive.

2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

   1. AIt was so much a mess that we started again.
   2. BIt was so a mess that we started again.
   3. CIt was such mess that we started again.
   4. DIt was such a mess that we started again.
   Show answer

   Answer: D It was such a mess that we started again.

   such a before a singular countable noun.

3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

   1. AThe room was so a cold that nobody stayed.
   2. BThe room was such a cold that nobody stayed.
   3. CThe room was so cold that nobody stayed.
   4. DThe room was such cold that nobody stayed.
   Show answer

   Answer: C The room was so cold that nobody stayed.

   so before a bare adjective.

4. 4Fill in the gap.

   She spoke slowly _____ everybody could follow.

   1. Aso as
   2. Bfor that
   3. Cin order
   4. Dso that
   Show answer

   Answer: D She spoke slowly so that everybody could follow.

   so that plus a clause with a modal.

5. 5Fill in the gap.

   We left the original at home _____ lose it.

   1. Aso as to not
   2. Bso as not to
   3. Cin order to not
   4. Dfor not to
   Show answer

   Answer: B We left the original at home so as not to lose it.

   The negative goes before to.

6. 6Fill in the gap.

   There were _____ many objections that the plan was dropped.

   1. Aso
   2. Bsuch
   3. Csuch a
   4. Dso a
   Show answer

   Answer: A There were so many objections that the plan was dropped.

   so many with a countable plural.

7. 7Fill in the gap.

   It rained for a week, _____ the match was abandoned.

   1. Awith result that
   2. Bwith the result that
   3. Cso as that
   4. Din the result that
   Show answer

   Answer: B It rained for a week, with the result that the match was abandoned.

   with the result that introduces the outcome.

8. 8Fill in the gap.

   The fee is high _____ to discourage late applications.

   1. Aso that
   2. Bso as
   3. Cin order
   4. Dfor
   Show answer

   Answer: B The fee is high so as to discourage late applications.

   so as to states the purpose.

9. 9This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

   Which sentence is wrong?

   1. AIt was so bad a winter that three pipes burst.
   2. BIt was such a bad winter that three pipes burst.
   3. CThe winter was so bad that three pipes burst.
   4. DIt was so a bad winter that three pipes burst.
   Show answer

   Answer: D It was so a bad winter that three pipes burst.

   so a is not possible before a noun.

10. 10This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. AWe rang early to avoid being late.
    2. BWe rang so as not to be late.
    3. CWe rang in order to not be late.
    4. DWe rang in order not to be late.
    Show answer

    Answer: C We rang in order to not be late.

    The negative precedes to.