so that as a result?

Status
Not open for further replies.

keannu

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Korean
Home Country
South Korea
Current Location
South Korea
Is it possible to interpret "so that" as a result like ", so she could take care of...."? As I know, "so that" is always a purpose except when there is a comma ", so that".
Is there any exception that "so that" without a comma can be used as a result?

ex)She left work at 3 so that she could take care of her children.
 

BobK

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 29, 2006
Location
Spencers Wood, near Reading, UK
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
In that example, purpose and result are confused.

Before she had a baby, she left work at 5.00. Then her life changed and she made a decision. 'She left work at 3.00 so that she could take care of her children'. Purpose - no comma.

Then someone comes to her desk at 3.30 and asks 'Where's Nina?' Someone answers 'Didn't you know, she leaves at 3.00, so that she can look after her children.' Result - comma. In your example, purpose and resullt have got mixed up:
leaving early allows her to look after her children (result) but when she was making the decision to leave early, child-care was her purpose. I wouldn't make too much of a Thing of the 'rule' about the comma.

b
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top