I already know the whole phrase so as to means in order to. but still a bit curious about how to interpret each word in this phrase separately.
can I interpret the following sentence like this?
He sat at the front so as to be able to hear. (quoted from cambridge dictionary)
where so = in such way;
as = because of that;
to-clause is reduced from the clause with a modal auxiliary i.e. he will/would be able to hear,
to here is implying the meaning of mood auxiliary will/would.
put all together, the whole sentence can be interpreted like this:
He sat at the front in such way because of that he would be able to hear.
not sure I get it right.
