Learn English – Why is “so that” improper in “I was tired so that I couldn’t sleep”

conjunctions

d) I was so tired that I couldn't sleep

e) I was tired so that I couldn't sleep

Of these two examples d) is perfect and e) simply doesn't work.

d) is the correct form of e) or an alternative would be I was too tired to sleep.

One of my friends has explained this to me. Nevertheless, I couldn't get why E is incorrect.

there — at the link– has been written tow kinds of "so that", hasn't been written? if so, we could use them interchageably by the meaning both result and purpose.

I have underlined what I mean:

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Best Answer

The phrase "so that" means "for the purpose of". It shows intent or purpose.

Correct: I went to the market so that I could buy food.

  • (I went to the market for the purpose of buying food.)

Correct: She put on a coat so that she would not be cold.

  • (She put on a coat for the purpose of not being cold.)

The sentence "I was tired so that I couldn't sleep" doesn't make sense.

Incorrect: I was tired so that I couldn't sleep.

  • (I was tired for the purpose of not being able to sleep.)

This is difficult to read sensibly. It might mean that you made yourself tired with the intention of not being able to sleep.

On the other hand, so... that... is different from so that. It indicates that an extreme condition causes some consequence:

The desert was so hot that many of the soldiers passed out.

  • (The desert was very hot, and the heat caused many soldiers to pass out.)

The rock was so big that we needed 10 people to move it.

I was so tired that I couldn't sleep.

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