- Adverbs of purpose explain why an action happens or the reason behind it.
- Common examples include therefore, thus, so, because, consequently, and hence.
- They are typically placed at the beginning or end of a sentence and sometimes between clauses.
- There are three types of adverbs of purpose: cause and reason, effect and consequence, and intention and goal.
- Many common adverbs of purpose are phrasal adverbs, which are two or more words functioning together as an adverb (e.g., for this reason, with the aim of, due to this).
Adverbs of purpose are essential tools for articulating reasons and intentions in writing. Phrases like because of the rain; therefore, we stayed inside; and in order to succeed enhance communication.
What are adverbs of purpose?
Adverbs of purpose explain why something happens. They answer the question, “Why?”
Types of adverbs of purpose
Cause and reason (explain why something happens)
- Examples: because, since, as
- Example sentence: She left early because she felt sick.
Effect and consequence (show the result of an action)
- Examples: thus, therefore, hence, so
- Example sentence: He studied hard; therefore, he passed the exam.
Intention and goal (express purpose or intent)
- Examples: to, in order to, for the purpose of
- Example sentence: She speaks loudly to be heard in the crowd.
Common adverbs of purpose and their usage
| Adverb of Purpose | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Because | For the reason that | He left early because he was tired. |
| Since | As a result of | Since it was late, we went home. |
| As | For the reason that | I stayed home as I was feeling unwell. |
| So | Consequently | It was cold, so she wore a jacket. |
| Therefore | As a logical consequence of which | The road was blocked; therefore, we took another route. |
| Thus | For this reason | She had no experience; thus, she wasn’t hired. |
| Hence | Because of the preceding fact (more formal) | The demand was high; hence, prices increased. |
| To | For the purpose of | She studies hard to succeed. |
| In order to | For the purpose of (more formal) | He left early in order to catch the train. |
| For the purpose of | In order to | A meeting was scheduled for the purpose of discussing policy changes. |
Phrasal adverbs of purpose
Many adverbs of purpose are phrasal adverbs: groups of words that function like single adverbs by modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
Structure of adverbial phrases of purpose
Adverbial phrases of purpose typically include:
- Preposition + object (for this reason, due to this, because of that)
- Subordinating conjunction + subordinate clause (so that …, in order that …)
Examples of adverbial phrases of purpose
| For this reason | He missed the deadline; for this reason, he lost points. |
| Due to this | The weather was bad; due to this, the game was postponed. |
| With the aim of … | She volunteers with the aim of helping others. |
| So that … | He explained clearly so that everyone understood. |
Placement of adverbs of purpose in sentences
At the beginning of a sentence
Some adverbs of purpose, especially those showing cause and effect, logically appear at the beginning of a sentence.
Example: Therefore, we decided to cancel the trip.
Between two clauses
When connecting two ideas, adverbs of purpose often appear between clauses in a compound or complex sentence.
Example: She was tired, so she went to bed early.
At the end of a sentence
Adverbs of purpose that describe intentions often come at the end of a sentence.
Example: He studies every night in order to pass his exams.
