To express purpose

Definition

To express purpose means to indicate the reason or intention behind an action, often explaining why something is done. This concept is often articulated through non-finite clauses, such as infinitives, participles, and gerunds, which serve to clarify the purpose of a verb in a sentence. Understanding how these forms operate helps in constructing more nuanced and clear sentences that convey the intended meaning.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Infinitives are frequently used to express purpose in sentences, such as 'I went to the store to buy milk.'
2. Gerunds can also indicate purpose; for example, 'I am studying for passing the exam.' shows the intention behind studying.
3. Participles can express purpose when combined with other verbs, like in 'Hoping to win, she trained hard.' where 'hoping' explains why she trained.
4. Understanding how to properly use non-finite clauses enhances clarity and effectiveness in writing.
5. Expressing purpose through these forms allows for varied sentence structure, making writing more engaging.

Review Questions

• How can infinitives be used to express purpose in a sentence?
  • Infinitives can clearly express purpose by answering the question 'why?' For example, in the sentence 'He studies hard to succeed,' the infinitive 'to succeed' explains the reason for studying hard. This construction helps clarify the intention behind actions and makes sentences more informative.
• Discuss how gerunds can convey purpose differently from infinitives and provide an example.
  • Gerunds convey purpose by functioning as nouns that highlight an ongoing action or activity. For instance, in 'She enjoys dancing to express herself,' the gerund 'dancing' emphasizes the activity and its intended purpose. This contrasts with infinitives, which typically state the reason more directly.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of using participles versus infinitives for expressing purpose in complex sentences.
  • Using participles can create a more dynamic sentence structure while still conveying purpose; for example, 'Excited by the opportunity, she applied immediately' shows her reason for applying through the participle 'excited.' In contrast, an infinitive would simplify this to 'She applied to take advantage of the opportunity.' Both constructions effectively express purpose but differ in their stylistic impact and complexity within a sentence.

Related terms

Infinitive: The base form of a verb that can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb, often used to express purpose with 'to' in front, like 'to eat' or 'to run'.

Gerund: A verb form ending in '-ing' that functions as a noun and can express purpose, like 'running' in 'He enjoys running for exercise.'

Participle: A verb form that can function as an adjective or part of a verb tense, often used to provide additional information about a noun or to express purpose indirectly.