Glossary of Linguistic Terms

Means-Purpose Relation

Definition: 

A means-purpose relation is a causal relation in which:

  • one proposition expresses a state or activity employed so as to bring about the state or event expressed by the other proposition
  • the achievement or nonachievement of the desired state or event is not expressed
Kinds: 
Examples: 

(English)

  • He was quiet in order not to disturb the boss.
See Also: 
Proposition
Source: 
Beekman and Callow 1974
302–303
Beekman, Callow, and Kopesec 1981
102
Mann and Thompson 1987b
63–65

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library. Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003.

LinguaLinks Ordering Information

Glossary Hierarchy

  • Meaning And Pragmatic Function
  • Interpropositional Relation
  • Causal Relation
  • Means-Purpose Relation
  • Negative Purpose Relation