相似英语词汇辨析141：so that，so…that

141 so that，so…that

连词so that和so…that…的涵义和用法并不相同。

So that的意思是“为了”、“俾使”、“以致”，它引导目的状语从句和结果状语从句。例：
They opened a technical training course so that the managers and clerks could attend it during their spare time．
他们开了一个技术训练班，使经理和职员们在业余的时间可以去上课。
Please switch the light on so that we can see what it is．
请开灯，让我们看一下它是什么东西。
During the earthquake their house fell with a crash，so that they had to find a new abode．
地震时，他们的房子哗啦一声倒塌了，所以他们必须要找一个新的住处。
So… that…的意思是“如此地…以致于…”，它引导结果状语从句。在口语中，so…that…的that常被省去。例：
She felt so sad that tears came to her eyes．
她非常悲伤，泪水盈眶。
John was so drunk（that）he could not stand still．
约翰醉得站也站不住了。
He spoke so rapidly（that）we could hardly follow him．
他说得很快，我们很难听清楚他在说什么。
应当在此指出，有许多英语语法书都提到，so that 在引导结果状语从句时，是用陈述语气，在引导目的状语从句时，要用虚拟语气。例如：
She locked her child in the house when she went out so that it might not be able to go outside and get hurt；but a fire broke out and the door was locked so that the child burnt alive．
第一个so that引导的是目的状语从句，第二个so that引导的是结果状语从句。事实上，在现代英语中，有不少人在so that引导的目的状语从句中，是用陈述语气代替虚拟语气的（如本节中的第二个例句中。“wecan see”代替“we could see”）。