What is the function of 'that' in relative clauses of purpose?

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What is the function of 'that' in relative clauses of purpose?

In relative clauses of purpose, the function of 'that' is to introduce the purpose or reason for the action described in the main clause. It acts as a subordinating conjunction, connecting the relative clause to the main clause and indicating the intention or goal behind the action.

For example, consider the sentence: "I bought a book that I can improve my English."

In this sentence, the relative clause "that I can improve my English" is expressing the purpose or reason for buying the book. The word 'that' introduces the relative clause and indicates that the action of buying the book was done with the intention of improving English skills.

It is important to note that 'that' is not the only word that can be used to introduce relative clauses of purpose. Other subordinating conjunctions such as 'so that', 'in order that', or 'to' can also be used depending on the context and the level of formality.

For instance, the sentence "I bought a book so that I can improve my English" conveys the same meaning as the previous example. Here, 'so that' is used instead of 'that' to indicate the purpose of buying the book.

In summary, the function of 'that' in relative clauses of purpose is to introduce the purpose or reason for the action described in the main clause. It connects the relative clause to the main clause and indicates the intention or goal behind the action.