Three Step English - Learn #3 - How to Discuss Purpose in English - Learn
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Do you know how to discuss purpose in English? I'll explain it in just a moment. Hi, my name is Alicia, and in this lesson, you'll learn how to discuss purpose through a quick conversation. Let's look at the dialogue. So, what are you doing here in New York, Jack? Learning about food. When I go back home, I'm going to open up the most extraordinary hamburger place in all of London. You?

Back in China, I was studying to be a musician, but I gave up on that dream. Now I'm setting up an agency to represent American artists in China. What's that? Sorry, I couldn't hear you. It's pretty noisy here. Well, I just want to start an artist management agency. Is that so? When I open up my restaurant, I want a big stage to book live shows. Maybe you can help me with that. Sure. By the way, where's Tess?

Tess? She said she'd meet us later. Had to go to the library so that she could drop off some books, she said. Let's go over the dialogue again, more slowly this time. So, what are you doing here in New York, Jack? Learning about food? When I go back home, I'm going to open up the most extraordinary hamburger place in all of London. You? Back in China, I was studying to be a musician, but I gave up on that dream.

Now I'm setting up an agency to represent American artists in China. What's that? Sorry, I couldn't hear you. It's pretty noisy here. Well, I just want to start an artist management agency. Is that so? When I open up my restaurant, I want a big stage to book live shows. Maybe you can help me with that. Sure. By the way, where's Tess?

Tess, she said she'd meet us later. Had to go to the library so that she could drop off some books, she said. Let's focus on the key part of the conversation. This character is talking to this character about their reasons for studying in New York. When asked about her reasons, this character says,

Back in China, I was studying to be a musician, but I gave up on that dream. Now, I'm setting up an agency to represent American artists in China. First, she talks about what she was doing in China. I was studying. And then she says why. To be a musician. After this, she says what she's doing now. I'm setting up an agency. And why? To represent American artists in China.

In this lesson, you'll learn how to explain reasons and purposes in a similar way. Let's look at the sentence pattern. This pattern is the structure that all of our examples will follow. Clause, to, their infinitive, complement. Let's see how a line from the dialogue follows this pattern. I was studying to be a musician. This pattern is used to describe the purpose of another action. Now, let's look at some speaking examples. First,

I needed to go by the library to drop off some books. Can you see how the pattern applies here? Next, I'll go there early to reserve a table. Let's try one more. You don't always need to buy books to learn something. Another one. Bring this coupon to get in for free. One last example. I needed to download an app to study anatomy. Let's review. Using the sentence pattern we learned, do you know how the words should be ordered?

I want to start biking to lose weight.

Great. Let's do one more sentence. Using the sentence pattern we learned, do you know how the words should be ordered? I. I need. I need to go. I need to go to. I need to go to school. I need to go to school to be.

I need to go to school to be a... I need to go to school to be a doctor. I need to go to school to be a doctor. In this lesson, you've learned how to discuss plans in English. Thanks for watching and see you in the next lesson.