student asking question

Are "just so" and "so that" same? Any difference between two?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

"Just so" and "so that" have slightly different meanings. "Just so" means "only so". Here, he is saying that the only reason he wants her to show his picture to Ben is so that Ben doesn't forget him. "So that" introduces a purpose for doing something (here, the purpose is "so Ben doesn't forget him"), but unlike the phrase "just so", it does not specify whether this is the only purpose of doing something. Therefore, "so that" could introduce the only purpose for doing something, or one purpose for doing something. Ex: I came to this city just so I can visit you. There is no other reason I'm here. Ex: I work so that I can pay my bills. I also buy food with the money I make from working.

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