so that，so…that的涵義和用法辨析
連詞so that和so…that…的涵義和用法並不相同。
So that的意思是“爲了”、“俾使”、“以致”，它引導目的狀語從句和結果狀語從句。例：
Please switch the light on so that we can see what it is.
請開燈，讓我們看一下它是什麼東西。
During the earthquake their house fell with a crash，so that they had to find a new abode.
地震時，他們的房子嘩啦一聲倒塌了，所以他們必須要找一個新的住處。
They opened a technical training course so that the managers and clerks could attend it during their spare time.
他們開了一個技術訓練班，使經理和職員們在業餘的時間可以去上課。
So… that…的意思是“如此地…以致於…”，它引導結果狀語從句。在口語中，so…that…的that常被省去。例：
She felt so sad that tears came to her eyes.
她非常悲傷，淚水盈眶。
He spoke so rapidly(that)we could hardly follow him.
他說得很快，我們很難聽清楚他在說什麼。
John was so drunk(that)he could not stand still.
約翰醉得站也站不住了。
應當在此指出，有許多英語語法書都提到，so that 在引導結果狀語從句時，是用陳述語氣，在引導目的狀語從句時，要用虛擬語氣。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.
第一個so that引導的是目的狀語從句，第二個so that引導的是結果狀語從句。事實上，在現代英語中，有不少人在so that引導的目的狀語從句中，是用陳述語氣代替虛擬語氣的(如本節中的第二個例句中。“wecan see”代替“we could see”)。
