so that
you use this to explain the reason or purpose for doing something.
“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.”
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*.
Last updated April 22, 2026