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12.2 So, such & too

so 1 She's so impatient (that) she can't wait for
with all these patterns, ... that is used to talk anything.
about the effect or result 2 He drove so fast (that) I was frightened.
3 I've eaten so much (that) I can't eat any
so + adjective more.
so+ adverb so much 4 We've done so much (hard) work today that
so much (+ adjective) + uncountable noun we're exhausted.
so many 5 There were so many (that) I didn't know
so many (+ adjective) + plural noun which one to choose.
6 You've made so many (careless) mistakes
(that) you'll have to do it all again.

such 1 The noise was such a nuisance (that) we

with all these patterns, ... that is used to talk
about the effect or result
such a + singular noun
such a + adjective + singular noun
such (+ adjective) + uncountable noun
such (+ adjective) + plural noun
such a lot such a lot of(+ adjective) +
uncountable noun
such a lot of(+ adjective) + plural noun
had to leave.
2 It was such a wonderful day (that) I'll never
forget it.
3 I felt such terrible embarrassment (that) I
had to leave.
4 They're such (total) idiots (that) everyone
laughs at them.
5 We did such a lot during the trip (that) we
were very tired by the end of it.
6 We've done such a lot of (hard) work today
(that) we're exhausted.
7 You've made such a lot of (careless)
mistakes (that) you'll have to do it all again.

Compare
so and such
• do not use so + adjective + noun.
NOT They were so unpleasant people or It was so lovely-countryside.
Instead, use such:
They were such unpleasant people.
It was such lovely countryside.

• do not use a so + adjective + noun or so a + adjective + noun.

NOT It was a so terrible day. or It was so a terrible day..
Instead, use such:
It was such a terrible day.

• to talk about a large amount or number, both so much I many and such a lot of can be
used with the same meaning
so much (hard) work = such a lot of (hard) work
so many (careless) mistakes = such a lot of (careless) mistakes
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too

You've been working too hard.

You take everything too seriously.

use too, too much and too many for Don't spend too much.
expressing the idea 'more than is suitable',
'more than is wanted' or 'more than enough' You eat too much unhealthy food.

too + adjective I like peas but don't give me too many.

too + adverb
too much He makes too many (stupid) mistakes.
too much (+ adjective) + uncountable
noun The job is too hard for him.
too many
too many (+ adjective) + plural noun She spoke too quickly for me.

• + for somebody /something can be used
after all the above patterns
• an infinitive with to can be used after all
the above patterns to talk about a result or
effect, with the meaning that something is
impossible
► note: Do not use too + adjective + noun.
► note: Do not use too much + adjective.
It was too cold (for us) to go outside.
She spoke too quickly for me to follow
what she said.
NOT They are too young people to vota
Instead. say They are too young to vote:
too can be followed by an adjective but not
by an adjective and a noun. NOT He was
too-much rude. Instead, say He was too
rude: too much can be followed by a noun
but not by an adjective alone.

Compare
so, such and too

• these examples show how the same idea can be expressed in different ways
She's so impatient that she can't wait for anything.
She's such an impatient person that she can't wait for anything.
She's too impatient to wait for anything.
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1. Fill the gaps in this text with one of the words or phrases below,
s.o so much so many s.uch too too many

The Beatles
The Beatles were so famous in the 1960s that millions of people throughout the world
knew who they were, They had such enormous fame that they were among the
most well-known people in the world. For one or two of them, this all happened too
quickly for them to be able to cope with it, and they had personal problems. Many people
say that The Beatles had so much influence on popular music that they changed it
for ever. They wrote so many famous songs that most people would recognize at least one
of them. Some people believe that they were so brilliant songwriters that
nobody else has been as good as them.

However, it was all too good to last for long. After a few years, they decided that their
fans behaved so hysterically that they couldn't perform in public
any more, because it was too angerous for them to do so. There were so many problems
for them to go on tour again.

The Beatles wrote so many memorable songs for people to forget them,
They were such an important group that their songs are still played throughout the world
today.

2. These sentences are all incorrect. Rewrite them correctly.

1 I'm too very busy to get bored. I'm too busy to get bored
I’m too busy to get bored.
2 She had such much bad publicity, she stopped being popular.
She had so much bad publicity, she stopped being popular.
3 They're having much fun to want to leave now.
They’re having too much fun to want to leave now.
4 He has a such strong opinions that nobody can make him change his mind.
He has too strong opinions that nobody can make him change his mind.
5 We eat too much sweet things - it's not good for our teeth.
We eat so much sweet things – it’s not good for our teeth.

3. Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first, using the
word given.
1 This food is very good. I'm going to have some more. such
This is such a good meal, I'm going to have some more.
2 She spoke very quietly. Nobody could hear her. so
She spoke so quietly nobody could hear her.
3 This film is very complicated. I can't follow it.
This film is too hard to follow.
4 He made a lot of mistakes. He lost the job. so
He made so many mistakes he lost the job.
5 This is a very exciting city. I'd like to stay here longer. such
This is such an exciting city I'd like to stay here longer.
6 I am very hungry. I could eat anything. so
I am so hungry I could eat anything.
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7 I was very tired last night. I didn't go out. too
I was to tired to go out last night.
8 She was very good at the job. She was promoted quickly.so
She was so good at the job she was promoted quickly.
9 He's got a lot of money. He doesn't know what to do with it all. so
He's got so much money he doesn't know what to do with it all.
10 She's got a lot of friends. She doesn't get lonely. too
She's got too many friends to get lonely.
11 He was very rude. He offended everyone at the party. so
He was so rude he offended everyone at the party.
12 They're very nice people. I'd like to spend more time with them. such
They're such nice people Id |ike t0 spend more time with them_
13 It happened very quickly. I couldn't react in time. too
It happened too quick for me t0 react in time
14 This restaurant is very expensive. Most people can't afford it. too
This restaurant is too expensive for people t0 afford
15 He bought lots of new clothes. He had no money left. such
He bought such new C|Othes that he had no money left.
16 My car is in very bad condition. It won't last much longer. such
My car is in such a bad condition it worVt ,ast much |onger