Causes and Results

Now that we know the basic phrases for talking about the future let’s just explore a little bit some phrases that we can use to talk about the relationship between cause and result and also our actions and our intentions.

The cause of our actions is often our intentions our intentions is what we really want to do.

What comes up in our mind that makes us act right.

So let’s look at some ways that we can do that.

If you want to be successful you need to work hard so we can use if to express intentions or express desire and then an action related to that desire.

If you want this do this or you need to do this.

If you want to quit smoking you need to have a lot of willpower willpower.

If you want to be successful you need to work hard.

You can switch this around you could say you need to work hard if you want to be successful.

If you do it that way you need to work hard.

If you want to be successful cancel this comma don’t use that.

So if you switch it around and it starts with you don’t use the comma if it starts with.

If use the comma.

OK so that why do we do things.

Why do you do what you do.

You have a reason an intention.

There is a cause for your actions.

I workout workout means exercise I workout so that this is our intention.

I workout so that I can stay in shape.

Remember we learn to stay in shape or get in shape to when we want to state why we say this.

Save the same thing here.

I work hard so that someday I can be successful.

Same basic idea I read to broaden my horizons.

I read to broaden my horizons.

Now this too is not used in the same way as to connected to a verb like go.

I’m going to the supermarket.

It’s not that too.

This too is about our intentions are reasons for doing things I read.

Why do you read to broaden my horizons.

That means to expand what I can think about to expand what I know to expand what I’m aware of.

To broaden my horizons by the way a very useful phrase.

We could say the same thing here.

I work out to stay in shape if we use so that I can stay in shape to stay in shape or get in shape.