SO X AS TO Y ? CORRECT ?
This topic has expert replies
Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction |
-
capnx
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 268
- Joined: Sat Aug 15, 2009 9:22 am
- Thanked: 19 times
- Followed by:1 members
- GMAT Score:700
dude, So X as Y is ALWAYS wrong.
accepted expressions are:
so... as to...
ie: The weather was so dry as to cause the fire to spread even further.
so as to...
ie: I studied all night so as to pass my exam today.
so... that...
ie: The weather was so dry that the fire grew even larger.
so that...
ie: I studied all night so that I can pass my exam.
accepted expressions are:
so... as to...
ie: The weather was so dry as to cause the fire to spread even further.
so as to...
ie: I studied all night so as to pass my exam today.
so... that...
ie: The weather was so dry that the fire grew even larger.
so that...
ie: I studied all night so that I can pass my exam.
-
capnx
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 268
- Joined: Sat Aug 15, 2009 9:22 am
- Thanked: 19 times
- Followed by:1 members
- GMAT Score:700
yes, so... as to... = so X as to Y = so + adj + as to + verb
He got up so late as to miss the bus.
Her health condition deteriorated so fast as to threaten her life.
from the Manhattan GMAT prep chapter 8 Idioms list:
so as not to be hindered by
so X as to (be) Y
so X as to constitute Y
so X that Y
He got up so late as to miss the bus.
Her health condition deteriorated so fast as to threaten her life.
from the Manhattan GMAT prep chapter 8 Idioms list:
so as not to be hindered by
so X as to (be) Y
so X as to constitute Y
so X that Y
-
target_mba2010
- Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2009 9:01 pm
Hi,
One more point i feel can be useful is..
While using so X as to Y = so + adj + as to + verb ,
one should remember to use it as a comparator.
Never use it to substitute 'in order to'.
One more point i feel can be useful is..
While using so X as to Y = so + adj + as to + verb ,
one should remember to use it as a comparator.
Never use it to substitute 'in order to'.
Hey CAPNX,
There seems to be some confusion with this idiom. Manhaatan GMAT SC says So X as to Y is correct, but if you check Q 33 of OG 11, it mentions the construction so x as to y as an incorrect idiom.
In this case where do we go now. Stacey or some other Sc wizard can you guys pitch in with your expert comment.
There seems to be some confusion with this idiom. Manhaatan GMAT SC says So X as to Y is correct, but if you check Q 33 of OG 11, it mentions the construction so x as to y as an incorrect idiom.
In this case where do we go now. Stacey or some other Sc wizard can you guys pitch in with your expert comment.
-
capnx
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 268
- Joined: Sat Aug 15, 2009 9:22 am
- Thanked: 19 times
- Followed by:1 members
- GMAT Score:700
target is right. "so as to" = in order to, NOT "so X as to"
I think the explanation in the explanation in 33 is incomplete. Here's the question:
Although... it is so debilitating that it has become an economic drain...
C: so debilitating is it as to become an economic...
when the answer key says "so X as to Y" is not idiomatic, I think it's referring to this case which is "it is so debilitating is it as to..."
if the sentence had read: "it is so debilitating as to become an economic drain...", the sentence would be acceptable.
EDIT:
stacey (not sure if it's the same person) has a short discussion here:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/x-i ... t6537.html
after some search, I think "so X as to (be) Y" is correct as long as the meaning is correct. Also, if one of the choices is "so X that...", pay attention because usually "so... that..." is preferred.
I think the explanation in the explanation in 33 is incomplete. Here's the question:
Although... it is so debilitating that it has become an economic drain...
C: so debilitating is it as to become an economic...
when the answer key says "so X as to Y" is not idiomatic, I think it's referring to this case which is "it is so debilitating is it as to..."
if the sentence had read: "it is so debilitating as to become an economic drain...", the sentence would be acceptable.
EDIT:
stacey (not sure if it's the same person) has a short discussion here:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/x-i ... t6537.html
after some search, I think "so X as to (be) Y" is correct as long as the meaning is correct. Also, if one of the choices is "so X that...", pay attention because usually "so... that..." is preferred.
GMAT/MBA Expert
-
Stacey Koprince
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 2228
- Joined: Wed Dec 27, 2006 3:28 pm
- Location: Montreal, Canada
- Thanked: 639 times
- Followed by:694 members
- GMAT Score:780
Yeah, that other post was me, too. I'll quote it here, because I think it clears up the questions from above:
The nutshell: that OG11 problem that implies the entire idiom itself is incorrect wasn't really worded that well. It should've said that the idiom was incorrectly used in that problem. That's all.Interestingly, we've recently discovered two contradictory OG explanations on this issue. A problem in the 10th edition says "so x as to y" is correct, and a different problem in the 11th edition says it is not a correct idiom. Maybe something in the 12th edition will clear up the discrepancy.
We think the "rejection" of the entire idiom in the 11th edition was merely poor wording; we think the writer was actually trying to say it just wasn't correct usage for that particular sentence.
"So X as to Y" means something is SO (big, strong, slow, whatever, but something kind of extreme) that it actually causes something else to happen - something that wouldn't ordinarily happen.
Please note: I do not use the Private Messaging system! I will not see any PMs that you send to me!!
Stacey Koprince
GMAT Instructor
Director of Online Community
Manhattan GMAT
Contributor to Beat The GMAT!
Learn more about me
Stacey Koprince
GMAT Instructor
Director of Online Community
Manhattan GMAT
Contributor to Beat The GMAT!
Learn more about me
