Lesson 10: What's the Point

“What’s the Point?”

In English it is important for you to know how to give the reason for doing something or explaining the purpose. “What’s the point?” means “what’s the reason” or “what’s the purpose.” Let’s look at some common situations and I think you will see my point about this very important skill. I’m sure that you will be asked by one of your friends or colleagues at work this kind of question to explain your actions: “Why did you do that?” How should you answer? Everyone probably knows the word, “Because” but I want to focus on something different. For situations with action, I suggest this pattern: “to + verb + object” For example, X. “Why did you stop in Barstow? Y. “To go to the Outlet stores.” By the way, if you don’t know about Barstow, California it is a famous place in the middle of the desert between Las Vegas and Los Angeles where there are hundreds of designer shops that sell second hand or past season brand merchandise at super low prices. You can find Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Louis Vuitton etc. In the example above, please keep in mind that I have reduced this pattern from its original formal form to make it sound more natural and less formal. The long and formal pattern is: “subject + verb + object + in order to + verb + object” as in “I went to Barstow in order to go shopping at the Outlet stores.” Too long, right? I want you to think of some possible questions to the answers below. The answers have been reduced to sound natural. I’m only going to give you the answers so keep in mind you have to imagine the question. There might also be multiple questions you can make on your own to match the same answer. Let’s take a look.

Key words:
To get a head start on the project
To be able to speak naturally
To get some more milk
To feel like my life has some direction and purpose
To be independent
To make her feel jealous
To spend time with my family
To see the animals
To release stress
To show them who’s boss
Do’ya= do you (reduction)

Here are some situational examples:
Example: Two friends
(Casual):
w Why do’ya wake up so early?
u To get a head start on the project.

Example: Two co-workers
(Everyday)
w Why did you decide to go back to school?
u To feel like my life has some direction and purpose.

Example: Boss to manager
(Formal):
w Why do you spend so much time at the gym?
u To release stress.