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What is In order that in English? Accurate usage of In order that in English!

In order that is one of the familiar phrases commonly used in English. So, what is In order that in English, and How to use In order that in English? Let's delve into the details of In order that in English and distinguish it from other common phrases in today's article!

What is In order that? The usage of In order that in English

I. What is In order that in English?

What is In order that in English? According to the Oxford Dictionary, In order that is pronounced as /ɪn ˈɔːdə(r) ðæt/. It is used to indicate the purpose or cause of the preceding clause. Additionally, the clause following In order that in English is often accompanied by auxiliary verbs such as "can, could, will, would, may" to add a more formal tone to the sentence. Here are specific examples:

I set my alarm clock in order that I can wake up early for the meeting.
She studied hard in order that she could pass the exam with flying colors.
She wrote detailed instructions in order that others may follow the process easily.
He saved money diligently in order that he could buy his dream car.

Now you have discovered the answer to the question "What is In order that in English?" with PREP, right? With the above definition, pay attention to using In order that in English appropriately!

II. How to use In order that in English

Next, let's explore how to use In order that in English and familiarize yourself with the following structure:

Clause + in order that + Subject + (auxiliary verb) + Verb

For example:

He asked for clarification in order that he could fully understand the task.
We organized a meeting in order that everyone will be informed about the changes.
She prepared a detailed schedule in order that all members could stay organized and meet all the deadlines.

III. Other common idioms with Order

Besides the phrase In order that, let's learn some other common idioms related to Order frequently encountered in English communication!

Idioms with Order	Meaning	Example
in order	in accordance with the rules of procedure at a meeting, legislative assembly, etc.	Is your driver's license in order? Is it in order for me to request an extension for the deadline?
in order to do something	with the purpose or intention of doing something	They saved money diligently in order to buy their dream house. She practiced daily in order to improve her piano skills.
in running/ working order	in good condition or working well	The computer is not in working order. It needs to be repaired. After the maintenance, the elevator is back in running order.
in short order	without delay; quickly	The chef prepared a delicious meal in short order. The team completed the project in short order.
of/ in the order of something	around or about (a specified number), approximately	The project is expected to cost in the order of $1 million. The concert attendance was in the order of 10,000 people.
out of order	(of an electrical or mechanical device) not working properly or at all; not in the correct sequence; not according to the rules of a meeting, legislative assembly, etc.; (of a person or their behavior) unacceptable or wrong	The air conditioning system in the office is out of order, making it uncomfortably hot. She was out of order when she made false accusations against her colleague.
of a high order = of the highest/ first order	of a very good kind or of the best kind	His knowledge of mathematics is of a high order; he can solve complex equations effortlessly. This painting displayed artistic mastery of a high order.
be in/ take (holy) orders	to become a priest	After years of studying theology and serving in his local church, John decided to take holy orders. Johnson took holy orders after years of serving as a deacon.
call/ bring somebody/ something to order	to tell people to obey the rules of a formal meeting	The teacher called the noisy students to order and reminded them of the classroom rules. The chairman brought the chaotic discussion to order and redirected the conversation towards the agenda.

Along with the meaning of In order that in English, please memorize the idioms associated with "Order" mentioned above to avoid confusion and use them correctly in English!

IV. Distinguishing So that and In order that in English

Many learners often confuse So that with In order that in English and use them inappropriately in certain contexts. Therefore, let's carefully distinguish the differences between So that and In order that in English with PREP!

Distinguishing So that and In order that in English
Similarity	Both So that and In order that are used to express purpose and can be used with modal verbs like can, will, would, etc.
Differences	So that is more common than In order that because In order that in English carries a more formal tone. Also, in intimate situations, "that" can be omitted after "so that". For example: We booked an early flight so (that) we could arrive at our destination in the morning. Please complete the registration form in order that we can process your application.
	When referring to the future, you can use either the simple present or the future simple "will/'ll" after "so that." However, only the simple present tense is used after In order that to talk about the future. For example: She will study diligently in order that she succeeds in her exams. = She will study diligently so that she succeeds in her exams. = She will study diligently so that she will succeed in her exams.
	So that can be used to mean "with the result that", but In order that in English does not convey this meaning. For example: The flowers bloom in spring, so that February is a beautiful time to visit the garden. ➡ CORRECT The flowers bloom in spring, in order that February is a beautiful time to visit the garden. ➡ INCORRECT

After understanding the differences in the usage of So that and In order that, pay attention to using them correctly in different contexts in English!

V. Distinguishing In order to and In order that in English

In spoken English, there is another commonly encountered phrase, In order to, used to express the purpose of an action. However, the usage structure of In order to and In order that in English is entirely different. Let's explore the differences between In order to and In order that in English with PREP!

	In order to	In order that
Similarity	Both In order to and In order that are used to express the purpose of an action.
Differences	After In order to, the verb is in the infinitive form, and the negative form is "In order not to." In order to is only used when both clauses have the same subject. Structure of In order to: Clause + in order (not) to + Verb (infinitive).	After In order that, there is usually a clause accompanied by an auxiliary verb. Structure of In order that in English: Clause + in order that + Subject + (auxiliary verb) + Verb.
Example	I woke up early in order to catch the first train. She attends workshops in order to expand her professional network.	She left a detailed note in order that her colleague would understand the task. He sent an email reminder in order that nobody would miss the deadline.

With different usage and structures, pay attention to using In order to and In order that in English accurately!

VI. Exercise using In order that in English with answers

After learning the definition of In order that and the detailed usage, let's dive into the exercises below to familiarize yourself with the phrase In order that in English and its correct structure.

1. Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the phrases: In order that, In order to, So that

1. He went to the library ................. borrow some books.

2. She spoke loudly ................. everyone could hear her.

3. We need to save money ................. we can buy a house.

4. They left early ................. they wouldn't miss the train.

5. You need to exercise regularly ................. have good health.

6. She studied English ................. communicate with foreigners.

7. Please turn off the lights when leaving the room ................. save energy.

8. My parents work hard ................. we can have a good life.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the sentence using the given conjunctions

1. He set reminders on his phone in order that he wouldn't forget important meetings. (in order to)

2. The teacher explained the concept again in order that the students would grasp it. (so that)

3. He reads books and articles in order to stay updated on current events. (in order that)

4. They set goals and make plans in order to achieve success in their careers. (in order that)

2. Answer

Exercise 1:

1. in order to	2. so that/ in order that	3. so that/ in order that	4. so that/ in order that
5. in order to	6. in order to	7. in order to	8. so that/ in order that

Exercise 2:

1. He set reminders on his phone in order not to forget important meetings.

2. The teacher explained the concept again so that the students would grasp it.

3. He reads books and articles in order that he could stay updated on current events.

4. They set goals and make plans in order that they can achieve success in their careers.

So you already know "What is In order that in English?" and “How to use In order that in English?”, right? This article has compiled all the theoretical knowledge and provided common idioms that go with Order to help you distinguish them from In order that in English. PREP hopes this will be a useful reference for effectively studying and preparing for exams!

Master Tu Pham

Founder/CEO at Prep

Mr. Tú Phạm is the founder of PREP, a Smart Test Preparation Platform. With over 10 years of teaching and test preparation experience, he has assisted thousands of students in achieving high scores on the IELTS exam. Additionally, Mr. Tú Phạm serves as a consultant for British Council programs and as a speaker at numerous premier education events, programs, and seminars.