In English, the phrase ‘in order to’ is commonly used to express purpose, and it often appears in sentences like ‘The storage system will reboot in order for the changes to take effect.’ However, the structure of ‘in order to’ might seem confusing, especially when the word ‘order’ and the infinitive verb ‘to’ are separated by a prepositional phrase, as in the case of the phrase ‘in order for the changes to take effect.’ This article will break down the structure of ‘in order to’ and explain why such a separation is grammatically acceptable in English.
1. The Function of ‘In Order to’
The phrase ‘in order to’ is a set expression used to indicate the purpose or intention behind an action. It can be roughly translated as ‘〜するために’ in Japanese. In the sentence ‘The storage system will reboot in order for the changes to take effect,’ the phrase ‘in order to’ expresses the purpose of the action ‘rebooting.’
However, the sentence in question introduces an interesting variation, ‘in order for the changes to take effect.’ While this structure appears to separate the infinitive ‘to’ from ‘in order,’ it is still grammatically correct, and this separation is due to the syntax of English grammar.
2. The Role of the Prepositional Phrase ‘for the changes’
The preposition ‘for’ in the phrase ‘in order for the changes to take effect’ introduces a noun phrase, ‘the changes.’ In this case, the entire phrase ‘in order for the changes to take effect’ still functions to express purpose, but it is structured in a way that allows for more emphasis on the noun phrase (‘the changes’). This construction is known as a purpose clause, where the ‘for’ preposition introduces the noun phrase that serves as the subject of the following infinitive verb.
In essence, ‘in order for’ introduces a purpose clause, which is common in English grammar when the subject of the purpose clause is not the same as the subject of the main clause. This allows for greater clarity and focus on the specific details (in this case, ‘the changes’).
3. Why Is This Separation Possible in English?
The separation between ‘in order’ and the infinitive ‘to’ is possible because English grammar allows for the flexibility of prepositional phrases. In purpose clauses, the preposition ‘for’ can be used to introduce the subject of the purpose clause, which is why it can appear between ‘in order’ and ‘to.’ This type of structure is often used when the subject of the action and the subject of the purpose are different, making the sentence more explicit and easier to understand.
In this case, the ‘changes’ are the subject of the purpose clause, and ‘the storage system’ is the subject of the main clause. The use of ‘for’ helps to clarify the relationship between the two subjects.
4. Examples of Similar Structures in English
English offers many examples of sentences that use a similar structure, where a prepositional phrase separates ‘in order’ from ‘to.’ For example:
- ‘She left early in order for her to catch the last train.’
- ‘They worked hard in order for their team to win.’
In both examples, the phrase ‘in order for’ introduces a purpose clause that explains the reasoning behind the main action. In each case, the prepositional phrase ‘for’ separates ‘in order’ from the infinitive verb ‘to,’ yet the sentence structure remains grammatically correct.
5. Conclusion: Why This Structure Is Grammatically Correct
In conclusion, the structure ‘in order for the changes to take effect’ is grammatically correct because English allows for the flexibility of prepositional phrases. The preposition ‘for’ introduces a purpose clause that emphasizes the subject (‘the changes’), while still maintaining the overall meaning of purpose expressed by ‘in order to.’ This type of structure is common and is used to add clarity and precision in sentences where the purpose involves a distinct subject from the main clause.
Understanding how purpose clauses function in English can help you better navigate the intricacies of sentence structure and improve both your writing and comprehension of complex grammatical constructions.
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