Let’s look at the difference between SO and SUCH. The difference is easy!
Today’s plan:
1. so
2. such
3. comparing ‘so’ and ‘such’
4. so/such…..that
SO = VERY
Yes, there are many other definitions of ‘so’, but in today’s lesson, we are looking at it in terms of ‘very’.
Learn more about ‘SO’
If you are a more visual learner, watch the video!
1. so + adjective / adverb
This food looks so good.
This food looks very good.
good=adjective
I’m so happy you are here.
I’m very happy you are here.
happy=adjective
The other day a man was playing the violin so beautifully right outside of my flat window.
…..very beautifully…
beautifully=adverb
Mary, why do you message your boyfriend so often?
….very often….
often=adverb
so + much/many + noun
When do we use much? When do we use many?
much + uncountable nouns: water, luggage, bread, passion, patience
many + countable nouns: dog/s, person/people, hat/s, child/children
Nicole, why do you drink so much coffee?
so much + uncountable noun
I’m under so much pressure at work.
so much + uncountable noun
Brian, why do you own so many stuffed animals?
so many + countable noun
I met so many wonderful people on my trip to L.A.
so many + countable noun
I’ve told you so many times! Do not use my phone!
so many + countable noun
2. such (a/an) + (adjective) + noun
- ‘such’ = very (The meaning is the same, but ‘such/very’ are used different grammatically!)
- use a/an with singular nouns only
- ‘adjectives’ are optional
It was such a nice day yesterday.
My students put on such an amazing performance.
If you want to sound more natural when speaking, try to make ‘such a’ and ‘such an’ one sound: sucha / suchan.
My son is being such a little monster today.
You know, when I was a teenager I never appreciated it, but I had such patient parents.
3. comparing SO and SUCH
Look at the grammatical difference between each sentence. The information is the same, but the grammar is different:
I am always so hungry. / I have such a big appetite.
I’m so sick. / I caught such a bad cold.
Tina is so friendly. / Tina is such a nice person.
Typical Mistakes
I’m so much hungry. Do not use ‘so much’ without a noun.
Donna is such intelligent. Do not use ‘such + adjective’.
☑ Donna is such an intelligent person.
4. so/such ….that
We use ‘so/such + that’ to give a result.
I was so tired yesterday, that I went to bed at 8.
Why did I go to bed at 8? Because I was so tired.
I was so angry that I couldn’t breathe.
Why couldn’t I breathe? Because I was so angry.
There were so many people on the bus that I decided to walk.
Why did I decide to walk? Because there were so many people.
My neighbour is such a nice lady that I decided to bake her cookies.
Why did I bake her cookies? because she is such a nice lady.
I ate so much food during my holiday that I gained four kilos!
Why did I gain four kilos? Because I ate so much food.
Thank you so much for reading!
Don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel, Instagram, Facebook and other blogs. See you next time! Arnel
