comma question "so that"

[hebrews110]

I know that so uses a comma when it is used as a conjunction as in, "I didn't know what to do, so I gave it to him." But what if it is used to mean "so that." For instance: "I gave it to him so he would stop pestering me." Does that so take a comma?

 

[bhaisahab]

I know that so uses a comma when it is used as a conjunction as in, "I didn't know what to do, so I gave it to him." But what if it is used to mean "so that." For instance: "I gave it to him so he would stop pestering me." Does that so take a comma?

No, "I gave it to him so (that) he would stop pestering me" doesn't need a comma.

 

[TheParser]

I know that so uses a comma when it is used as a conjunction as in, "I didn't know what to do, so I gave it to him." But what if it is used to mean "so that." For instance: "I gave it to him so he would stop pestering me." Does that so take a comma?

:!::!::!: NOT A TEACHER :!::!::!:


I was taught that it's helpful to use a comma if so that introduces

a clause of result.

(1) He ran so that he might catch the train. No comma should

be used because so that introduces a clause of purpose (gives the

reason for his running).

(2) He ran, so that he caught the train. So that introduces a clause of

result. That is, it tells what happened as a result of his running. The


comma is necessary because it indicates the pause that is necessary in

speech.

THANK YOU & HAVE A NICE DAY.

Notes: (1) Your native language is English, so you already know that

many of us native speakers drop the "that" in sentences such as

No. l and No. 2.

(2) I wish to credit those two example sentences to A Grammar of

Present-Day English by Professors Pence and Emery.

 

[ihop]

Hi Parser,

Why can't we say...

He ran, because of that he caught the train instead of He ran, so that he caught the train.

He ran, so that he caught the train - Sounds different not common.

Am I correct?

 

[lauralie2]

Hi Parser,

Why can't we say...

He ran, because of that he caught the train instead of He ran, so that he caught the train.

He ran, so that he caught the train - Sounds different not common.

Am I correct?

Agreed. The second one, while correct, doesn't sound like modern English to me either.

I'd say:

1. He ran to catch the train. <purpose>
2. He ran and so he caught the train. <result>

 

[ihop]

Thanks!
Now both the sentences sound better.