What's the meaning of "as" in this sentence?

Question

Would you please tell me what grammatical function the "as" has in the following sentence?

To look at the world in such a way as to emphasize the evil is the art of pessimism.

I thought it was part of the phrase "as to" which means the same as "about". But it is not the case because a verb cannot come after
"as to".

Well,then, is the "such noun as to verb" some kind of phrase?

I can't figure it outTT
Thank you in advance~

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

in such a way is a variant of so. Therefore, in such a way as to is a variant of so as to.
so as to itself is the infinitival form of so that ... (might/could/would/...) ...
In the infinitival form, the subject is understood or left vague on purpose.
The meaning of in such a way as to or so as to is therefore somewhat similar to in order to, but so as to explains the manner in which something is done, and in order to explains the purpose for which it is done.
____
It works like this:
To look at the world so that we might emphasize the evil is the art of pessimism.
To look at the world so as to emphasize the evil is the art of pessimism.
To look at the world in such a way that we might emphasize the evil is the art of pessimism.
To look at the world in such a way as to emphasize the evil is the art of pessimism.
(To look at the world in order to emphasize the evil is the art of pessimism.)
If you need further examples:

The police stationed themselves so that they might prevent the demonstrators from entering the plaza.
The police stationed themselves so as to prevent the demonstrators from entering the plaza.
The police stationed themselves in such a way that they might prevent the demonstrators from entering the plaza.
The police stationed themselves in such a way as to prevent the demonstrators from entering the plaza.
(The police stationed themselves in order to prevent the demonstrators from entering the plaza.)
____

Kathy put her ear to the door so that she might hear the conversation going on within the room.

Kathy put her ear to the door so as to hear the conversation going on within the room.

Kathy put her ear to the door in such a way that she might hear the conversation going on within the room.

Kathy put her ear to the door in such a way as to hear the conversation going on within the room.

(Kathy put her ear to the door in order to hear the conversation going on within the room.)
____
The chief stood on a high mound so that he might be seen by the warriors.

The chief stood on a high mound so as to be seen by the warriors.

The chief stood on a high mound in such a way that he might be seen by the warriors.

The chief stood on a high mound in such a way as to be seen by the warriors.

(The chief stood on a high mound in order to be seen by the warriors.)
CJ

What's the meaning of "as" in this sentence?

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions