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What are In order to and So as to? How are In order to and So as to in English?

In order to and So as to are two common English grammar structures used to express purpose. However, depending on the context, you may choose to use either In order to or So as to to suit the situation appropriately. In the following article, PREP will help you understand more clearly how to use In order to and So as to as well as distinguish between them.

I. What is In order to?

What does In order to mean? In order to is an English phrase that means "to do something..." It is used to indicate the purpose or goal of an action or event. Specifically, it is often accompanied by a verb to express the reason, purpose, or objective for carrying out that action. For example:

I studied hard in order to pass the exam.
She saved money in order to buy a new car.
They worked late into the night in order to finish the project on time.

II. What is So as to?

What does So as to mean? So as to is also an English phrase that means "to do something..." It is used to express the purpose or reason for an action being taken. For example:

She woke up early so as to catch the first bus.
He exercised regularly so as to improve his fitness.
They saved money so as to go on a vacation next year.

III. The usage of So as to and In order to

How are In order to and So as to used? Let's explore their usage with PREP right below!

	Structure	Usage	Example
So as to	S + V + so as (not) to + V(inf).	Explicitly stating the objective or reason for a specific action.	Linda practiced so hard so as to get the first prize.
In order to	S + V + in order (not) to + V(inf)… S + V + in order + for somebody + (not) + to + V(inf)…	Expressing the reason, purpose, or goal for which that action is being carried out.	Rose saved money in order not to overspend on her vacation. She cooked a special meal in order for her family to enjoy their dinner together.

Note: When using In order to and So as to to connect two clauses expressing purpose, you need to pay attention to the following:

The two original clauses must have the SAME SUBJECT in order to use In order to and So as to to connect them.
When combining two independent clauses, you need to REMOVE THE SUBJECT from the second clause and OMIT verbs like "like, love, want, hope,..." while keeping the following verbs in their base form (infinitive form).

For example:

I study hard. I want to get a good job. ➞ I work hard in order to get a good job.
I ordered a cup of milk tea. I want to fulfill my energy to work. ➞ I ordered a cup of milk tea so as to fulfill my energy to work.

IV. A comparison between In order to and So as to

In order to and So as to are often confused with each other. So, how can we differentiate them? Let's take a look at the table below together with PREP!

Criteria	In order to	So as to
Similarities	Both In order to and So as to are ways of expressing the purpose or reason behind an action being taken.
Differences	Tend to be more formal and serious. It is commonly used in formal writing such as reports, letters, and technical documents.	Tend to be more natural and common in everyday language and casual communication.
	Often used to specify a specific purpose, providing clarity about the mentioned goal.	Sometimes it can be more general, without the need to specify a specific goal in detail.
	Sometimes used to highlight a more important objective or to demonstrate logical sequencing in the purpose of an action.
Example	We saved money in order to buy a new house.	They cleaned the house so as to welcome their guests.

V. Some equivalent structures to In order to and So as to

Instead of repeatedly using the two structures In order to and "So as to," PREP would like to introduce some synonymous structures for you to use flexibly!

Structure	Example
To + V	Peter went to the store to buy some groceries.
So that	Jenny studied diligently so that she could pass the final exam.
With a view to V-ing	They joined the workshop with a view to improving their communication skills.
With an aim of V-ing	They launched a marketing campaign with an aim of attracting a younger audience.

VI. Exercises on In order to and So as to with detailed answers

Below is an exercise on In order to and So as to to help you reinforce your theoretical knowledge. Try to do it yourself and check the answers right below!

1. Exercises

Exercise 1: Use In order to and So as to to link the following sentences:

He speaks slowly. He doesn’t want to confuse the audience. (so as to)
They practiced diligently. They want to improve their skills. (so as to)
She wrote a thank-you letter. She wants to express her gratitude for the gift. (so as to)
They organized the event because they want attendees to have a memorable experience. (in order to)
They exercised regularly. They want to stay healthy. (in order to)

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

They attended the workshop _____ gain a better understanding of the new software.
- so as to
- so that
She studied diligently _____ pass her exams with flying colors.
- with a view to
- in order to
He saved money for months _____ buy a new car.
- so that
- in order to
She woke up early _____ catch the first train to the city.
- so as to
- with an aim of
They worked overtime _____ meet the tight project deadline.
- in order not to
- in order to

2. Answer keys

Exercise 1:

He speaks slowly so as not to confuse the audience.
They practiced diligently so as to improve their skills.
She wrote a thank-you letter so as to express her gratitude for the gift.
They organized the event in order for the attendees to have a memorable experience.
They exercised regularly in order to stay healthy.

Exercise 2:

VII. Crack the IELTS Exam With Confidence

PREP hopes that this article about In order to and So as to has helped you understand their usage. If you’re ready to boost your IELTS band score, check out our expert-led courses :

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Master Tu Pham

Founder/CEO at Prep

Founder of Prep Smart Test Preparation Platform. With over 10 years of experience in teaching and test preparation, Mr. Tú has helped thousands of students achieve high scores in the IELTS exam. In addition, Mr. Tú Phạm is also a consulting expert in British Council programs and a speaker at many leading educational events, programs, and conferences.