Conectores de propósito y resultado: to/in order to/so that/therefore
Estos conectores explican para qué haces algo (to, in order to, so that) y también marcan resultados más formales (therefore).
1) Mapa rápido
Idea básica:
• to / in order to / so that responden a “¿para qué?”.
• therefore introduce un resultado como “por lo tanto”.
En este nivel, piensa: to = muy común · in order to = más formal · so that = “para que + sujeto” · therefore = “por lo tanto”.
2) Propósito con to + infinitive (el patrón más común)
Usamos to + verbo para decir para qué hacemos algo.
| Patrón | Ejemplo | Traducción |
|---|---|---|
| oración + to + V | I went to the shop to buy some milk. | Fui a la tienda para comprar leche. |
| oración + to + V (propósito) | She’s studying hard to pass the exam. | Está estudiando mucho para aprobar el examen. |
| S + V + to + V | We got up early to catch the train. | Nos levantamos temprano para tomar el tren. |
• He called me to ask a question.
• They moved to the city to find a job.
No uses for + infinitivo para propósito: ❌ *for to buy* → ✅ to buy.
3) in order to / in order not to (propósito más claro o formal)
in order to también significa “para”, pero suena más claro/formal o se usa cuando queremos enfatizar el propósito.
| Patrón | Ejemplo | Comentario |
|---|---|---|
| S + V + in order to + V | She left early in order to avoid traffic. | ≈ She left early to avoid traffic. |
| S + V + in order not to + V | He spoke quietly in order not to wake the baby. | Propósito negativo. |
• We turned off our phones in order to concentrate.
• She saved money in order to travel abroad.
En conversación diaria casi siempre basta con to. Usa in order to cuando quieras sonar un poco más formal o marcar bien el propósito.
4) Propósito negativo: not to / in order not to
Para decir “para no hacer algo”, coloca not antes de to:
| Patrón | Ejemplo | Traducción |
|---|---|---|
| S + V + not to + V | He turned off the lights not to wake the children. | Apagó las luces para no despertar a los niños. |
| S + V + in order not to + V | She whispered in order not to disturb anyone. | Susurró para no molestar a nadie. |
• I left early not to be late.
• They took a taxi in order not to miss the train.
No digas ❌ *for not to wake* → usa ✅ not to wake o ✅ in order not to wake.
5) so that: “para que” + sujeto
so that se usa como “para que” cuando después va un sujeto + verbo. A menudo se usa con can/could/will/would.
| Patrón | Ejemplo | Traducción |
|---|---|---|
| S + V + so that + S + can/could + V | She’s saving money so that she can buy a car. | Está ahorrando dinero para que pueda comprar un coche. |
| S + V + so that + S + will/would + V | He spoke slowly so that we would understand. | Habló despacio para que entendiéramos. |
• We left early so that we wouldn’t get stuck in traffic.
• I wrote it down so that I wouldn’t forget.
En inglés informal a veces se omite that: so we can…. Pero so that es perfecto para B1.
6) therefore: resultado más formal (≈ so)
therefore introduce un resultado como “por lo tanto / por consiguiente”. Es más formal que so.
| Patrón | Ejemplo | Comentario |
|---|---|---|
| oración. Therefore, oración. | It was very late. Therefore, we decided to go home. | Punto antes; coma después de therefore. |
| oración; therefore, oración. | He didn’t study; therefore, he failed the exam. | Similar a so pero más formal. |
• The company is growing fast; therefore, we need more staff.
• She was ill; therefore, she stayed in bed.
En conversación diaria normalmente usarás so. Therefore es muy útil para textos escritos y formales.
7) to / for / so that: comparación rápida
| Forma | Uso típico | Ejemplo |
|---|---|---|
| to + V | Propósito simple | I went to the gym to exercise. |
| for + noun | Función de algo | This button is for the lights. |
| for + V-ing | Función/uso general | This app is great for learning English. |
| so that + S + V | Propósito con sujeto | She works hard so that she can travel. |
“Esta app es para aprender inglés” → This app is great for learning English (no: ❌ *to learn English* para función general del objeto).
8) Errores comunes
| Incorrecto | Correcto | Por qué |
|---|---|---|
| *I went to the shop for buy some milk.* | I went to the shop to buy some milk. | Para propósito con verbo → to + V, no for + V. |
| *She studies a lot in order pass the exam.* | She studies a lot in order to pass the exam. | Siempre in order to + V. |
| *He spoke quietly for not wake the baby.* | He spoke quietly not to wake the baby. / He spoke quietly in order not to wake the baby. | Propósito negativo → not to / in order not to. |
| *She’s saving money so that buy a car.* | She’s saving money so that she can buy a car. | Después de so that va sujeto + verbo. |
| *It was late, therefore we went home.* (B1, puntuación) | It was late; therefore, we went home. / It was late. Therefore, we went home. | therefore suele llevar pausa fuerte y coma. |
9) Mini-práctica
- Completa con to / in order to / not to / in order not to:
a) I got up early ______ catch the first train.
b) She left work early ______ avoid the traffic.
c) He spoke quietly ______ wake the baby.
d) We turned off our phones ______ be distracted.
e) They saved money ______ buy a new car. - Completa con so that y un verbo adecuado (can / could / will / would):
a) She’s studying a lot ______ she ______ pass the exam.
b) We left early ______ we ______ catch the bus.
c) I wrote it down ______ I ______ not forget it.
d) He spoke slowly ______ everybody ______ understand.
e) They’re working hard ______ they ______ buy a house. - Elige la opción correcta:
a) I went to the library (to study / for study).
b) This button is (to turn on / for turning on) the TV.
c) She closed the window (not to be / to not be) cold.
d) I exercise every day (in order be / in order to be) healthy.
e) It was very late; (therefore / so that), we went home. - Corrige si es necesario:
a) He called me for ask a question.
b) She’s saving money so that buy a car.
c) I turned off the TV in order not wake the baby.
d) It was raining, therefore we stayed inside. (puntuación formal)
e) This app is for learn English. - Traduce al inglés usando to / in order to / so that / therefore:
a) Me levanté temprano para tomar el primer tren.
b) Está estudiando mucho para que pueda aprobar el examen.
c) Apagaron las luces para no despertar a los niños.
d) Estaba lloviendo; por lo tanto, nos quedamos en casa.
e) Esta app es genial para aprender vocabulario.
Respuestas ejemplo:
1) a) to b) in order to c) not to d) not to e) to
2) a) so that she can b) so that we can / could c) so that I would / will d) so that everybody can / could e) so that they can / will
3) a) to study b) for turning on c) not to be d) in order to be e) therefore
4) a) He called me to ask a question.
b) She’s saving money so that she can buy a car.
c) I turned off the TV in order not to wake the baby.
d) It was raining; therefore, we stayed inside. / It was raining. Therefore, we stayed inside.
e) This app is great for learning English.
5) a) I got up early to take the first train.
b) She’s studying a lot so that she can pass the exam.
c) They turned off the lights in order not to wake the children.
d) It was raining; therefore, we stayed at home.
e) This app is great for learning vocabulary.
10) Próximo paso
Continúa con Quantifiers ampliados (few/a few, little/a little) para expresar cantidades con más precisión y evitar errores típicos de “poco / unos pocos”.