有一读者问： 有这样一句话：
(1)Bring it nearer so that I may see it better.
问so that从句表目的还是结果？
表目的。一般说来，含有may, can, will等词的so that从句皆表目的，因为它们皆指将来。例如：
(2)Speak clearly so that they may understand you. （may亦可代之以should）
(3)I must learn English well so that I can serve the people better.
(4)She dresses like that so that everyone will notice her.
表结果的从句则常不用上述助动词或情态动词，而且其前常有一逗号，例如：
(5)He fell in the water, so that all his clothes got wet.
(6)He was ill, so that he didn't come.
这种前面有逗号的表结果的so that从句也可以看作与前面一句并列的分句。但也有像下面句子的情况：
(7)The room was packed with people so that we couldn't get in.
在这个句子中，so that从句显然也表结果，但有两点值得注意：一是其前没有逗号（说明表结果的so that从句之前并不一定要有逗号），二是它虽是含有could，但其所在的so that从句仍可表结果。
