in order to 意为“为了……”，表示目的;在用法和意义上相当于so as to结构，但是in order to结构可以用于句首、句中，而so as to多用于句中。其否定式分别为：in order not to 和so as not to。

[拓展] in order to和so as to在句中表示目的时，常可以转化成in order that或so that引导的目的状语从句。如: We should work hard in order to / so as to pass the exam. → We should work hard in order that / so that we can pass the exam.为了能通过考试，我们应该努力学习。