Infinitive purpose vs result

Question

The team scored one goal to win the game.(During their game, in the second half, the team scored one goal that allowed them to win)Q1) What does the above sentence imply?1. The team scored one goal in order to win the game.(purpose)2. The team scored one goal and won the game.(result)3. Either 1 or 2 according to context.4. Either 1 or 2, but more like 1.5. Either 1 or 2, but more like 2.I think the right answer is 2 or 5 because scoring goals isn't what we can do purposely, but almost by chance or luck.Q3) Does the below sentence still have the implication of result?, not purpose?The team could score one goal to win the game (I wrote this sentence to imply the future expectation that the team might win the them if they score one goal)Please answer questions one by one, I really want to know them exactly. Thanks for your help in advance.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

fire1
The team scored one/a goal to win the game. [You can use 'a' instead of 'one' if you want.]
(During their game, in the second half, the team scored one goal that allowed them to win)
Q1) What does the above sentence imply? It implies 2 below.
1. The team scored one goal in order to win the game.(purpose)
For purpose you would need
The team had/has to score one (more) goal (in order) to win the game.
2. The team scored one goal and won the game.(result)
3. Either 1 or 2 according to context.
4. Either 1 or 2, but more like 1.
5. Either 1 or 2, but more like 2.
I think the right answer is 2 or 5 because scoring goals isn't what we can do purposely, but almost by chance or luck.
Q3) Does the below sentence still have the implication of result?, not purpose? No. 'could' means potential for success, not success. could = might be able to in this sentence.
The team could score one goal to win the game
(I wrote this sentence to imply the future expectation that the team might win the them if they score one goal) Expectation doesn't count as a result.
Please answer questions one by one, I really want to know them exactly. Thanks for your help in advance.

As explained above.

CJ

AlpheccaStars · Answer

fire1Please answer questions one by one, I really want to know them exactly. Thanks for your help in advance.

The team scored one goal to win the game.

(During their game, in the second half, the team scored one goal that allowed them to win)

Q1) What does the above sentence imply?

1. The team scored one goal in order to win the game.(purpose)

2. The team scored one goal and won the game.(result) The final score was 1-0.

3. Either 1 or 2 according to context.

4. Either 1 or 2, but more like 1.

5. Either 1 or 2, but more like 2.

Where is Q2?

fire1Q3) Does the ~~below~~ sentence below still have the implication of result?, not purpose?

The team could score one goal to win the game.

The team has to score more goals than the opposing team in order to win. So your statement implies the following:

1) The game is in progress.
2) The score is tied at 0-0.
3) The speaker believes that the defense of the team mentioned is strong enough to prevent the other team from scoring any goals. i.e. The opposition will not score any goal in the game. They also believe that there is a possibility of the team scoring one (but not more than one) goal from this point until the game ends.

BillJ · Answer

1. The team scored one goal to win the game.

2. The team could score one goal to win the game.

I'd say the infinitivals here are result adjuncts.

1. implies that scoring one goal resulted in the team winning the game. An example of a purpose adjunct would be The team needed to score one more goal (in order) to win the game.

2. is infelicitous, though the more salient interpretation is that if the possibility of scoring one goal is fulfilled, then the team would win the game. It could be interpreted as a marginal case of condition: if the team could score one goal they would win the game.

Infinitive purpose vs result

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