Even if we are so unlucky as to be diagnosed with cancer,
that early-stage alarm will provide a strong beacon of hope.
Be so kind as to cast your mind back to the summer of rock and free love.
The “so + adjective + as + to-infinitive” structure is used to express the idea that something is in such a state or condition that it causes or allows another thing to happen. It’s a way of showing cause and effect, or a particular circumstance that leads to a certain outcome. Here’s how it works in the examples above:
- Here, the phrase “so unlucky as to be diagnosed with cancer” means that if we are unlucky enough that we get diagnosed with cancer, there is still hope because of the early-stage alarm.
- In this sentence, “so kind as to cast your mind back” is a polite way of asking someone to remember or think about a specific time in the past. The speaker is asking the listener to be kind enough to recall the summer of rock and free love.
In both examples, the “so + adjective + as + to-infinitive” structure is used to express a certain condition (being unlucky, being kind) that leads to an outcome (being diagnosed with cancer, casting your mind back). It’s a versatile structure that can be used in a variety of contexts to show cause and effect.
Profiling Research
The English Grammar Profile C2 Point 123 in the category of CLAUSES/comparatives is defined as:
so’ + adjective + ‘as’ + ‘to’-infinitive clause, usually in formal contexts.
It also relates to Pearson’s GSE 80 C1
very polite requests
Their example:
Would you be so kind as to lend me some money?
iWeb search for:
so _J as to _VVI
1 SO BOLD AS TO SAY 147
a polite way of asking for or suggesting something when you do not want to offend someone that might find something rude.
2 SO KIND AS TO GIVE 112
3 SO KIND AS TO SEND 108
4 SO KIND AS TO TELL 107
5 SO NAIVE AS TO THINK 98
further collocates 4 left and right:
1 THAT 68
2 NOT 43
3 I’M 13
Coda Story6 SO KIND AS TO SHARE 94
7 SO GREAT AS TO MAKE 83
8 SO BOLD AS TO SUGGEST 82
I wondered if I could be so bold as to suggest a possible solution.
9 SO BOLD AS TO ASK 75
For results 10-50, we had AI complete the corpus results:
- Be so kind as to provide your notes from the last meeting.
- He was so naive as to believe every word she said.
- Would you be so kind as to help me move this table?
- Please be so kind as to post this letter for me.
- Could you be so kind as to take a look at my car engine?
- Would you be so kind as to let me know when you’re free?
- The storm was so severe as to cause major damage to the city.
- The device was so small as to make it easily portable.
- The mountain was so high as to make climbing it a challenge.
- Would you be so kind as to explain this concept to me?
- The prices were so low as to make the products affordable for everyone.
- He was so stupid as to think he could fool everyone.
- She was so stupid as to believe his lies.
- The temperature was so high as to cause a heatwave.
- He was so arrogant as to think he was always right.
- She was so foolish as to think she could get away with it.
- Would you be so kind as to offer me a glass of water?
- He was so foolish as to believe the scam.
- Could you be so kind as to point me in the right direction?
- The building was so large as to make it visible from miles away.
- I was so lucky as to get the last ticket.
- He was so good as to give me a lift home.
- The mistake was so bad as to make him lose his job.
- She was so bold as to make the first move.
- Would you be so kind as to show me how to use this software?
- Please be so kind as to leave your shoes at the door.
- I was so fortunate as to find a rare book at the flea market.
- Would you be so kind as to make some coffee?
- She was so good as to send me a birthday card.
- He was so bold as to claim he could beat the champion.
- The impact was so great as to render the building unsafe.
- I was so lucky as to find a parking spot right in front of the building.
- He was so bold as to call her out in the meeting.
- The injury was so severe as to require immediate surgery.
- Would you be so kind as to answer this question for me?
- The benefits were so great as to outweigh the costs.
- The earthquake was so great as to cause a tsunami.
- He was so good as to tell me the truth.
- Would you be so kind as to put these files in order?
- The demand was so great as to require additional supplies.
- The wind was so strong as to make the tree fall.
C1 vocabulary:
naive, outweigh, render