# so that

idiom · CEFR A2

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/so-that
Updated: 2026-04-22

## Meaning

you use this to explain the reason or purpose for doing something.

## Examples

- I study hard so that I can pass the test.
- I wear a coat so that I stay warm in the snow.
- Please speak louder so that everyone can hear your story.
- She saved money every month so that she could afford a trip to Europe next summer.
- He left the office early so that he would not get stuck in the heavy evening traffic on the way home.
- The chef prepared the ingredients in advance so that the dinner service would run smoothly for the guests.
- They installed a new security system so that their children would feel safe while playing in the garden.
- The government implemented new policies so that the local economy might recover from the recent period of instability.

## Origin

From Middle English *so that*, *so þat*, *sa þat*, *swo þat*, and *swa þat*, the term is derived from Old English *swā þæt*, being a compound of *so* and *that*. It shares a common lineage with the Saterland Frisian *sodät*, the West Frisian *sadat*, the Dutch *zodat*, and the German *sodaß* or *sodass*.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.