She is as great a poet as () ever lived.

Question

She is as great a poet as ever lived.I'd like to know if I can take it that "any poet" is implied after "as."Thank you in advance for your help.

Teechr · Accepted Answer

park sang joonI'd like to know if I can take it that "any poet" is implied after "as."

Yes, "any poet" is implied.

Park sang joon · Answer

Thank you, teechr, for your yet another kind answer.

"This train is as fast as anyone has designed a train so far."
This sentence feels to me like it compares "this train" and "anyone."

So I was wondering how I can feel it compares "this train" and "a train"

Teechr · Answer

This train is as fast as any ever built.

Park sang joon · Answer

Thank you, teechr, for your continuing support.

1. This train is as fast as anyone has designed a train so far.
2. This train is as fast as it is a train that anyone has designed a train so far.

Then, I'd like to know if I can take it that I can interpret #1 as #2.

Teechr · Answer

park sang joon1. This train is as fast as anyone has designed a train so far.

park sang joon2. This train is as fast as it is a train that anyone has designed a train so far.

Your #1 and #2 sentences are incorrect and unnatural.

Let me explain!

She is as great a poet as ever lived.
means:
She is as great a poet as any other poet that ever lived.

This train is as fast as any ever built.
means:
This train is as fast as any other train that was ever built.

I hope that's clear!

Park sang joon · Answer

Thank you, teech, for your so very kind answer.

But, I heard someone explained the meaning of "at the edge of current knowledge" like the following.

It's nothing to do with whether it is arduous. It is work which is performed at the edge of current knowledge of the subject.
For example let's say your project is to design a train to run at 600 km/h. You would be working "at the edge of current knowledge", because that's as fast as anyone has designed a train so far, and your design will be different, and therefore you will likely have problems which have not previously been encountered.

Teechr · Answer

park sang joonIt is work which is performed at the edge of current knowledge of the subject.

While the phrase "at the edge of current knowledge" may work in certain contexts, your sentence is unnatural.

park sang joonthat's as fast as anyone has designed a train so far

That's also unnatural, and it implies that it is the designer who is fast, not the train!

CalifJim · Answer

park sang joonShe is as great a poet as ever lived. I'd like to know if I can take it that "any poet" is implied after "as." Thank you in advance for your help.

No. Not just "any poet". She is as great a poet as [any poet who has] ever lived.

CJ

She is as great a poet as () ever lived.

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