8.45 non-finite clauses

Non-finite purpose clauses usually begin with 'in order to' or 'so as to'.

• They were shoving each other out of the way in order to get to the front.
• They have tried to limit such imports in order to protect their members' jobs.
• The best thing to do is to fix up a screen so as to let in the fresh air and keep out the flies.

If you want to make one of these clauses negative, you put 'not' in front of the 'to'.

• Rose trod with care in order not to spread the dirt.
• When removing a stain, work from the edge inwards so as not to enlarge the area affected.

8.46

Non-finite purpose clauses can simply be 'to'-infinitive clauses.

• People would stroll down the path to admire the garden.
• The children sleep together to keep warm.
• To understand what is happening now, we need to reflect on what has been achieved in the last decade.

However, you cannot use a negative with one of these structures. You cannot say, for example, 'We keep the window shut not to let the flies in'. You would have to say, 'We keep the window shut in order not to let the flies in'.