What is a 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, and the achievement or nonachievement of the desired state or event is not expressed.

Example (English)
	He was quiet in order not to disturb the boss.

Kind
	Here is a kind of means-purpose relation:
	What is a negative purpose relation?

Generic
	A means-purpose relation is a kind of
	What is a causal relation?

Sources
	Beekman and Callow 1974 302–303
	Beekman, Callow, and Kopesec 1981 102
	Mann and Thompson 1987b 63–65

Context for this page:

Concept module: means-purpose relation
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): M
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

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

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

© 2004 SIL International