¡Hi guys!, I hope everyone is doing well.
My name is Mercedes Guadalupe Palacios Vazquez, I’m 20
years old, I’m from Arriaga, Chiapas. I’m happy to be here. Today I will talk about the subject of "SO
and SUCH".
Well, let's start!!!
Do you know how to use the words SO and SUCH?
We often use SO and SUCH to mean VERY or REALLY. It makes the sentence stronger and shows
that there is a high level of something.
We can say about SO and SUCH that:
• Both of them usually have the same meaning “very”
• Both of them show extremes
• We can use both of them to add emphasis to the sentence
• Although they have some similarities, there are some main differences in their sentence
I want to help you understand the difference between SO and SUCH.
There are three simple steps to understanding the difference between these two words
My lesson plan for today is:
1. SO
2. SUCH
3. Comparing SO and SUCH
That looks nice and easy, let’s continue:
1. SO
Basically, the word SO is used to denote the extent of something, very or without any question.
However, it is mainly used to lay emphasis.
First use:
SO + Adjective/ SO + Adverbs (Before an adjective or adverb)
We use SO before an adjective or adverb (without a noun)
For example:
✓ She was so beautiful (= she was very beautiful).
✓ He ran so quickly (= he ran very quickly).
✓ The food was so delicious (= the food was really delicious).
✓ The children spoke French so well (= the children spoke French very well).
If we are using the comparative form of the adjective or adverb, we use so much to make it
stronger
For example:
✓ They were so much more innocent when they were younger.
✓ I work so much more quickly when I can concentrate.
Next,
SO + MANY/ MUCH/ LITTLE /FEW (Before MANY, MUCH, LITTLE, FEW)
We use SO before MUCH / MANY / LITLE / FEW with and without a noun. This shows that the
amount is really a lot or really little. As usual, we use a plural noun after 'many' and 'few' and an
uncountable noun after 'much' and 'little'
For example:
✓ I ate so much.
✓ I ate so much cake.
✓ He had so many.
✓ He had so many books.
✓ Why did you eat so little?
✓ He had so few friends that he was very lonely.
Next,
SO + Judgemental adjective (Before a Judgemental adjective)
We also use SO before a Judgemental adjective
For example:
✓ It’s so rainy outside!
Next,
SO + that
We use SO whit THAT, to show results or consequences. In general, the use of THAT is optional.
Examples:
✓ He was driving so fast that the had an accident
✓ My son studied so hard that he received the best grade in the class
✓ The music was so loud that I couldn’t hear my own voice
Finally,
SO is not used with nouns
It is important to know that when using SO we cannot make use of nouns
We continue with point number two:
2. SUCH
The term SUCH refers to "of a specific type or kind, which has been previously declared or is about
to be declared or implied". But it is mostly used to emphasize something.
SUCH + a/an + Adjective + Noun
As with SO, we use SUCH with adjectives to show extremes, but as opposed to SO , SUCH is
followed by an adjective as well as a noun.
We use SUCH when we say a phrase with a noun or an adjective and a noun. If there is “a” or “an”,
it goes after SUCH.
For example:
We cannot say “she was a so beautiful woman” or “she was a such beautiful woman” because it’s
incorrect. The correct form is: “She was such a beautiful woman”
Other examples are:
✓ Isabel is such a pretty girl
✓ Balí is such a beautiful island
✓ But it’s such an expensive trip
✓ He got such a time in the race
✓ It is such a beautiful day
✓ That is such a pretty dress
Note: SUCH cannot be used with quantifiers such as “much”, “many”, “few”, o “little”. Only SO can
be used with these quantifier
To shows our opinion
When we use SUCH directly with a noun, it's often a noun that shows our opinion.
• He's such a genius! (= he's a real genius / he's very clever).
• You're such a teacher! (= you act in a typical way for a teacher)
SUCH + that
As with SO, SUCH is used with “that” to show extremes that end in a particular result. In these
cases, as with SO, the use of “that” is optional.
Examples:
✓ It was such a beautiful day that we decided to go to the beach
✓ Dave has such a small car that he doesn’t have to spend much money on gas
✓ It was such a good meal that we made it again the next night
SUCH + Judgmental noun
With judgmental nouns, the use of SUCH gives emphasis
Examples:
✓ I have never liked Andy. He is such a jerk!
✓ You are such a clown! Are you ever serios?
SUCH + noun
When SUCH is followed directly by a noun, SUCH means “a type of”
For examples:
✓ I have never seen such architecture before
✓ We very rarely listen to such music
Finally,
SUCH is not used with adverbs
It is important to know that when using SUCH we cannot use adverbs.
To end with the lesson, we have point number three:
3. Comparing SO and SUCH
The points given below explain the difference between SO and SUCH:
1. SO, in the simplest sense, means to a great degree. It may refer to very or really or without
any kind of doubt. On the other extreme, SUCH means of a specific or similar kind which is
mentioned or implied.
2. SO is usually followed by an adjective or adverb, while SUCH is followed by a noun or
sometimes a noun phrase.
For example:
Using SO Using SUCH
1. That movie was SO exciting! 1. That was SUCH an exciting
2. Bob is SO nice, everyone movie!
likes him. 2. Bob is SUCH a gentleman.
3. I haven’t see Alex for SO While Everyone likes him.
long 3. I haven’t seen Alex for SUCH a
4. Patricia is SO nice. I really long time
like talking to her 4. Patricia is SUCH a nice person.
I really like talking to her
Well guys, we have come to the end of this lesson. Thank you very much for your attention. See
you!!!