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Perfect Stranger Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Vocab question no. 7 - expert/an expert + so as to

Dear All,

I'm reading an article from Cambridge Companion to Kate Chopin and one sentence strikes me as questionable, if I may say so. Here it goes:

She (K. Chopin) was expert in her manipulation of both form and language so as to position herself to write about issues which she found compelling - issues which were often controversial.

My primary question concerns the use of expert Shouldn't it be preceded by the indefinite article? If not, why so?
A question of secondary importance concerns so as to. I'm not quite sure why we have to use as here and what exactly it means.

Thank you
  

Top answer

Expert is an adjective here. So as to is a fixed phrase meaning in order to .

— RandomGuy

  • Expert is an adjective here.
  • So as to is a fixed phrase meaning in order to .
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4 Answers
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Expert is an adjective here. So as to is a fixed phrase meaning in order to.
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Perfect StrangerMy primary question concerns the use of expert Shouldn't it be preceded by the indefinite article? If not, why so?
'Expert is a predicate adjective there.
Perfect StrangerA question of secondary importance concerns so as to. I'm not quite sure why we have to use as here and what exactly it means.
It needn't b
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Aspara GusExpert is an adjective here.
I don't understand. How can it be an adjective... I'm utterly confused...
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Perfect StrangerHow can it be an adjective... I'm utterly confused.
On the contrary, how could it not be an adjective?

Expert (adjective) ? showing special skill or knowledge

Compare:

She was expert in her manipulation.
She was clumsy in her manipulation.
She was quick in her manipulation.
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