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Angliholic Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

act as/serve as a guide

Stella usually acts as guide when foreign visitors come to the school.

I wonder if I can replace "acts as" with "serves as" without making a change in meaning. Thanks.
  

Top answer

When you say "serves as", it means that Stella acts as a guide officially. It makes the sentence more formal. It means that Stella might charge also.

— Neeraj Jain

  • When you say "serves as", it means that Stella acts as a guide officially.
  • It makes the sentence more formal.
  • It means that Stella might charge also.
  • Gramatically, the sentence would be correct.
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6 Answers
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When you say "serves as", it means that Stella acts as a guide officially. It makes the sentence more formal. It means that Stella might charge also. Gramatically, the sentence would be correct.
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Thanks, Jain.

Just to make sure, you mean "serves as" is more formal and might charge, right?
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Serves might mean that she is providing a paid service; she is not a friend or a neighbour next door.
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Thanks, Jain.

By the way, "act as a guide" imply that it's free service and temperary?
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I was wondering if you needn't use the indefinite article after "serve as"?

She serves as a guide.
She serves as guide.

Are both correct?
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