Using “so” and “such” correctly can make your English sound more natural. Both words help you express a strong level or intensity of something, but they are used in different situations. This handy guide will teach you all about “so” and “such,” two words that can take your English from good to great.
What is “So”?
“So” is a little word that we use to show how much or how little of a quality something has. You can think of “so” as a word that helps to emphasize or strengthen the adjective or adverb that comes after it. Here’s how you can use “so”:
With Adjectives: Adjectives describe qualities of nouns, like ‘big’, ‘small’, ‘beautiful’, and ‘interesting’. When you want to stress how strong an adjective is, you put “so” right before it.
- Example: “The movie was so interesting that I watched it twice.”
With Adverbs: Adverbs often describe how an action is done. They can end in “-ly”, like ‘quickly’, ‘slowly’, ‘happily’, ‘sadly’. To emphasize an adverb, “so” comes just before it.
- Example: “She sings so beautifully that everyone stops to listen.”
Using “So” in Sentences
When you use “so” in a sentence, it usually follows this pattern:
- So + Adjective/Adverb + That: Sometimes, after saying how much or how little of a quality something has, you might want to say what happened because of it. For this, we use “that” after the adjective or adverb.
- Example: “The soup was so hot that I couldn’t eat it immediately.”
What is “Such”?
“Such” is another word we use to express intensity, but it’s used a bit differently. It’s used with nouns and often with adjectives too. Here’s how:
With Nouns Alone: You can use “such” right before a noun to stress what you are talking about.
- Example: “It was such a surprise to see her.”
With Adjectives and Nouns: When you want to emphasize both the noun and the adjective that describes it, “such” connects them.
- Example: “They have such a beautiful garden.”
Using “Such” in Sentences
Like “so”, “such” can also be used in a “such…that” structure to show the result of the intensity:
Such + (Adjective) + Noun + That: This structure is similar to the one with “so”, but remember, “such” is used with nouns (and sometimes adjectives too).
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- Example: “It was such a cold day that we decided to stay indoors.”
Key Differences
The main difference between “so” and “such” is what follows them:
- “So” is used with adjectives and adverbs without a noun. For example, “so big,” “so quickly.”
- “Such” is used with nouns, and often an adjective is used before the noun. For example, “such a big house,” “such an interesting book.”
Common Mistakes
- Avoid using “so” with a noun directly. Instead, use “such”. For example, say “It was such a surprise” instead of “It was so a surprise”.
- Do not use “such” with just an adjective or an adverb. Instead, use “so”. For example, say “She is so intelligent” instead of “She is such intelligent”.
Tips for Remembering
- Use “so” for intensity: Think of “so” when you want to talk about how intense or extreme something is, like “so hot” or “so fast.”
- Use “such” for description: Use “such” when you’re describing something with a noun, like “such a hot day” or “such a fast car.”
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