When Do We Use So and Such?
So and such make a feeling stronger, like very. They differ in what comes next.
SO + ADJECTIVENo noun after it
The phở here is so good!
SUCH A + ADJECTIVE + NOUNA singular noun
It was such a nice day.
SUCH + ADJECTIVE + NOUNPlural or uncountable: no a
Your neighbours are such kind people.
So goes before an adjective. Such goes before a noun.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"Thanks for dinner. You're blank cook!"
The forms
SO
soadjective / adverb
Your little girl is so clever.
Adverbs too: He drives so fast.
SUCH A / AN
sucha / anadjectivesingular noun
We had such a great time in Đà Nẵng.
SUCH, NO A
suchadjectiveplural / uncountable noun
We had such bad weather on our holiday.
SO MANY / SO MUCH
so manyplural noun·so muchuncountable noun
There's so much traffic in the morning.
Not such many or such much.
RESULT
so / such …(that)result
The soup was so salty that nobody ate it.
In speech, that is often dropped: The film was so sad I cried.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"There were blank people at the beach that we couldn't find a place to sit."
When to use them
Thanking someone
Thank you. You've been such a big help today.
A friend helped you move house all day.
Explaining why you're late
Sorry I'm late. There was so much traffic.
You walk into a meeting ten minutes late.
Telling a story
The hotel was so noisy we didn't sleep at all.
Say what happened because of it.
So or Too?
| SO | TOO | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | very, said with feeling | more than you want: a problem |
| Example | The dress is so expensive, but I love it. | The dress is too expensive. I can't buy it. |
For praise, use so. Too tells the listener something is wrong.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"Your garden is blank beautiful! I love it."
Common mistakes
Incorrect:It was so a beautiful day.
Correct:It was such a beautiful day.
With a, use such. A comes straight after it.
Incorrect:She has such beautiful voice.
Correct:She has such a beautiful voice.
Voice is singular. Such does not replace a.
Incorrect:It was very hot that we stayed home.
Correct:It was so hot that we stayed home.
A result with that needs so, not very.
Incorrect:We had such many problems with the car.
Correct:We had so many problems with the car.
Before many and much, use so.
Incorrect:We had such a bad weather in Huế.
Correct:We had such bad weather in Huế.
Weather is uncountable. No a.
Quick check · 5 questions
Choose the correct word:
My grandma tells such funny stories about her village.
- A. such — Correct
- B. so
- C. such a
Answer: A. such
Use such before adjective + noun. A plural noun never takes a.
Choose the correct word:
The test was so easy that everyone finished early.
- A. so — Correct
- B. such
- C. very
Answer: A. so
No noun follows easy. Very cannot start a result with that.
Choose the correct words:
Thank you for inviting us. We had such a lovely time at your wedding!
- A. such a lovely — Correct
- B. so lovely
- C. such lovely
Answer: A. such a lovely
We say have a lovely time. Add such, and a comes straight after it.
Choose the correct words:
Why did you buy so much food? We can't eat it all.
- A. so much — Correct
- B. so many
- C. such much
Answer: A. so much
So many is for plural nouns. There is no such much.
Choose the correct word:
This coffee is too hot to drink. Let's wait a minute.
- A. so
- B. too — Correct
Answer: B. too
Too … to means you can't do it. So only makes a word stronger.
See whether it really stuck.
Start the quiz · 14 questions