On Sun, 26 Jan 1997, Eric Feingold wrote:
 
> Could someone help me with the following structure:
>
> as+adj/adv+as
> so+adj/adv+as
> We can say "there is nothing as/so strong as an idea whose time has come"
>
> And we can say. "Bob is as tall as Fred."
>
> Both appear to be comparisons, but you cannot say "Bob is so tall as Fred."
> I know there's a difference here but I can't put it into words.
> Help!
>
 
Either as+adj/adv+as or so+adj/adv+as may be used in negative
constructions.  Many grammarians prescribe ONLY so...as in negative
sentences (I believe this is what Fenton and Fowler say, but I have that
book not available at present.)
 
In positive constructions, typically only as...as is used.  I believe,
however, that utterances such as "Bob is so tall as Fred" are
attested historically.  It may also be the case that the utterance is
possible today, although it may sound somewhat "off" to most speakers.
 
An historical side note:  the word 'as' is historically a compound
amalgamated from 'al' (all) and 'swa' (so), developing from ealswa, just
as 'also'.  So, from an historical perspective, the utterance "Bob is as
tall as Fred" may be glossed as "Bob is 'all so' tall as Fred".
 
 
 
 
Virtually, Terry
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