So that / to / because

Question

I bought a camera so that I could take pictures

I bought a camera to take pictures

I bought a camera because I wanted to take pictures

How would you teach the difference between the top 3 sentences?

I was asked why one uses "could" and the other uses "want" (why can't you use "could" or vice versa). Also, why an infinitive sentence can't have a "could" or "would" (apart from the obvious that could cant be used as an infinitive)

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Actually, "can" (past tense "could") usually works with the infinitive. You may not recognize it, because the "to" is omitted ("bare" infinitive).

"Could" is an auxilliary verb and has no infinitive form of its own, as far as I know. But in "I could (to) take pictures," "take" is an infinitive.

While your first two examples express the same meaning, the third one is a bit different.
"I bought a camera in order to take pictures" is another version of the first idea.
(Actually, all four of these use the infinitive, "to take.")

To answer the question about "could" vs. "wanted," these are two different ideas.
"Could" talks about the ability to take pictures.
"Want" talks about the wish to take pictures. (You might buy a camera and still be unable to take pictures.)

Grammarwannabe · Answer

Avangi, thanks. I probably should have stated the question a little better. I was having problems explaining why we cant say

"I bought a camera so that to take a picture"

what I meant with the could/would infinitive was:

I bought a camera in order could take pictures

(I assumed that "in order to" had to come together as a set phrase)

Avangi · Answer

I gotta rush outta here, but I'm thinking "so that" must be followed by a clause.
"I eat so that I (can) live."

So that / to / because

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions