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Other Connecting Words #1, by Dennis Oliver
Other Connecting Words (#1):
So / So that / So ___ that |
In addition to conjunctive adverbs, there
are other types
of
connecting
words.
Among other connecting words, so is
often a
problem--
because
it can be used as both
a conjunction and as an
adverb.
Both of these uses of so
are used in
similar
situations,
but they're not the same.
| 1. |
|
Use so to show a
result
or an effect. The
sentence
before
so is the cause of
the sentence
after so:
Judy was very tired, so she went to bed
early.
He'd not felt well for
several days, so he
made
an appointment
to see a
doctor.
I promised that I
would do it, so I'll
do it.
Rodrigo got a promotion at work, so his
family
had a party
for
him. |
| 2. |
|
Use so
(that)
to show a reason
or an intention.
The
sentence that comes after
so (that)
answers
"why" for the sentence before so
(that):
He moved there
so (that) he could get
a better job.
She wants to travel to Egypt so (that)
she can see
the Pyramids.
Leo is
working at three different jobs
so
(that) he
can buy
a car as soon as
possible.
Jean will hire a
tutor so (that)
she can get a higher
grade
in Math. |
| 3. |
|
You can also use so
with adjectives and
adverbs
followed by (that)
+ a
result or an effect:
The sun is
so bright (that) I can't
see. /
The sun's shining
so brightly (that) I
can't see.
His voice is
so soft (that) nobody
can hear him. /
He speaks
so softly (that) nobody
can hear him.
His test score
was so poor (that)
he almost
cried.
He did so poorly on
the test (that)
he almost
cried. |
In
1 and 2 above, so is a conjunction. In
3 above,
so is
an adverb of
degree
or amount.
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Special Notes:
| 1. |
|
When
so
is used with (that)* to show a
reason
or
an intention,
the
sentence after so is subordinate
to the sentence before so:
the
sentence after so
doesn't
have a complete meaning
without the other
sentence.
For this reason, the verb tense in the
main
sentence controls
the verb tense after so. The
verb
after so usually
has can or could,
but may or
might are also
possible:
He'll call you so
(that) you and he can /
may
discuss the problem. // He called you so
(that)
you
and
he could /
might discuss the
problem.
She's working hard
so (that) she can /
may
leave
early. // She worked hard so (that) she
could /
might leave early. |
| 2. |
|
When so
introduces a result or an
effect,
that is not used:
wrong:
Judy was tired, *so that she went
to bed.
right:
Judy
was tired, so she went to
bed.
wrong:
I promised to do it, *so that
I'll do it.
right:
I
promised to do it, so I'll do
it. |
| 3. |
|
When so
is used
to show a reason or intention
and when so is used with an adjective or
an
adverb, that is optional:
you can use that or
not use
that: it's
up to you:
He moved there
so (that) he could get
a better job.
Jean will hire a tutor so (that)
she can get a higher
grade
in Math.
The sun
is so bright (that)
I can't
see. /
The sun's shining
so brightly (that) I can't
see. |
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So can
also be used with noun
phrases
and with much,
many, little,
and few. These will be treated in other
Hints.
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