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Sb70012 Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Such + something + as /vs./ such + as + something
A computer equipped with signature-recognition software, which restricts access to a computer to those people whose signatures are on file, identifies a person's signature by analyzing not only the form of the signature but also such characteristics as pen pressure and signing speed.
Source: school exam
Hi,
If it the blue parts mean "such as", then why a noun (characteristics) has been put between them?
In the dictionaries, a noun often comes after "such as" not between "such" and "as".
Look at these sentence examples:
That sum of money is to cover costs such as travel and accommodation.
Cartoon characters such as Mickey Mouse and Snoopy are still popular.
In these two examples the brown parts are not put between "such" and "as". They are put between "such as".
But in my original question "characteristics" is put between "put" and "as". (dictionaries' examples are not like this.)
So, what does the blue "such" mean in my original question? Is it a determiner meaning "these" or "those"?
Thank you.
Source: school exam
Hi,
If it the blue parts mean "such as", then why a noun (characteristics) has been put between them?
In the dictionaries, a noun often comes after "such as" not between "such" and "as".
Look at these sentence examples:
That sum of money is to cover costs such as travel and accommodation.
Cartoon characters such as Mickey Mouse and Snoopy are still popular.
In these two examples the brown parts are not put between "such" and "as". They are put between "such as".
But in my original question "characteristics" is put between "put" and "as". (dictionaries' examples are not like this.)
So, what does the blue "such" mean in my original question? Is it a determiner meaning "these" or "those"?
Thank you.
Top answer
sb70012 If it the blue parts mean "such as", then why a noun (characteristics) has been put between them? It's an alternate word-order that is permissible. Your other examples can be done the same way.
- sb70012 If it the blue parts mean "such as", then why a noun (characteristics) has been put between them?
- It's an alternate word-order that is permissible.
- Your other examples can be done the same way.
- That sum of money is to cover costs such as travel and accommodation .
- That sum of money is to cover such costs as travel and accommodation .
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7 Answers
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sb70012If it the blue parts mean "such as", then why a noun (characteristics) has been put between them?It's an alternate word-order that is permissible. Your other examples can be done the same way.
That sum of money is to cover costs such as travel and accommodation.
That sum of money is
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sb70012but also such characteristics as pen pressure and signing speed.I'm a non-native.
I take "such" in the above as an adjective (in the attributive position) modifying the head of the noun phrase, i.e. "characteristic", and "as" as a conjunction (preposition?) introducing exemplification.
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AnonymousI take "such" in the above as an adjective (in the attributive position) modifying ...Doubtful.
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CalifJimDoubtfulAs I've introduced myself, I'm a non-native, so my understanding of that may be erroneous. But many dictionaries still list "such" as an adjective, e.g.:
"being the person or thing or the persons or things indicated:
If any member be behind in his dues, such member shall be suspended." (Dictionary.com)
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AnonymousBut many dictionaries still list "such" as an adjectiveNot all dictionaries even use the term "determiner". They sometimes call determiners adjectives. "determiner" is a more accurate term for use in grammar studies.
CJ
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CalifJimIf it's an adjective it seems it should have forms like "sucher" and "suchest", and we ought to be able to use "a very such characteristic", "a somewhat such characteristic", and so on, and say "These such characteristics are ...". None of those are possible.I wonder whether we can 'dismiss' "such" as an adjective by using the above analysis. The adje
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AnonymousI wonder whether we can 'dismiss' "such" as an adjective by using the above analysis. The adjective "unique", for example, would be doubtful as well (*uniquer/uniquest).True. If you postulate that "such" is a non-gradable adjective, we can't use that argument.
CJ
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