Unit 11B

Grammar: So and Such

Grammar: So and Such
We can use so and such to make our statements stronger (to emphasise). They can both
express a similar meaning to very.

For example:

I’ve been studying all day. I’m tired.

I’ve been studying all day. I’m so tired.
(very)
That was a good movie.
That was such a good movie.
(that was a very good movie)

However, there are some structural differences which can cause some confusion…
 So Such
so + adjective/adverb (+ noun) (+ that clause) such + (adjective) + noun (+ that clause)

adj. adj. n.
It was so hot yesterday. That was such a boring movie.
adv. n.
My boyfriend walks so fast when he’s anxious. Kyle is such a cheat!
adv. n.
They eat junk food so frequently. Your husband is such a gentleman.
adj. n.. n.
I was given so little information on the subject. Don’t be such a baby!
adj. n.
He’s is such a mathematical genius.

We can also add a result:

We can also add a result:
It was so hot yesterday that the candles in my
apartment melted. That was such a boring movie that I almost fell
asleep.
My boyfriend walks so fast when he’s anxious I
can barely keep up. Kyle is such a cheat that nobody enjoys playing
board games with him.
They eat junk food so frequently that I’m
surprised they’re not overweight. He’s is such a genius that he ought to apply for
a full scholarship.
I was given so little information on the subject
that I couldn’t complete my thesis.
Be careful:
The following are some common mistakes found at the B2 level:

Observe:
so + adjective/adverb (+ noun) such + (adjective) + noun adj.
He is so kind.
adj. n.
He is such a kind man.
We cannot use so before a noun: These sentences are both
n. correct and mean the same
Mateo is lost again. He is so idiot! thing, yet have different
structures.
Mateo is lost again. He is such an idiot!
(adj.) n.
Mateo is lost again. He is such a brainless idiot!

We cannot use such before adjectives if there is no noun in the sentence:

(adj.)
Your friend Chloe is such talented at playing the guitar.

Your friend Chloe is so talented at playing the guitar.

Take note:
We cannot use such before adverbs: We use the indefinite article a/an after
adv. such in the singular:
She sings such beautifully.
He is such an idiot.
She sings so beautifully. But not with plural:
They are such idiots.
So to describe extreme amounts
We can also use so to describe extreme amounts, but we need to take note of whether
the noun is countable or uncountable:

so + many/few (+ adjective) + countable noun so + much/little (+ adjective) + uncountable noun

(adj.) unc. noun

c. noun
I had so many questions after the lesson. I have wasted so much precious time waiting
for you!
unc. noun.
(adj.) c. noun.
My friend eats so few healthy meals that I’m There is so little rain in the desert I’m surprised
surprised he doesn’t get sick. any plants can survive.

Such as to introduce examples

Such as can also be used to mean for example or like:
for example/like
Some foods such as red meat, liver and bacon are high in cholesterol.
for example/like
Contact sports, such as rugby and American football, are the cause of many
injuries in older players.
for example/like
It seems that sixties rock bands such as the Beatles and the rolling stones have
come back into fashion with teenagers these days.
Task 11.2
Fill in the gaps with so or such. Some may need an article, and some may need an
extreme amount:

1. It was _________ windy day I was afraid our tent would blow away!
2. There were _________ people at the festival that I began to feel unsafe.
3. Grace is _________ bore! All she ever does is study!
4. It was _________ windy that our tent blew away!
5.We have _________ work to do, and _________ time left.
6. Harold and Greg are _________ tall men that they can barely fit into airplane seats
when they fly.
7. Lily speaks _________ fast that I can’t understand what she’s saying.
8. Lily is _________ fast speaker that I can’t understand what she’s saying.
9. My accounting exam was _________ nightmare!
10. They are _________ idiots!
11. There are _________ children and _________ biscuits. We better buy some more!
12. That is _________ big ugly building! I can’t believe they actually built it in the centre
of London!
Task 11.2
Fill in the gaps with so or such. Some may need an article, and some may need an
extreme amount:

1. It was _________
such a windy day I was afraid our tent would blow away!
2. There were _________
so many people at the festival that I began to feel unsafe.
3. Grace is _________
such a bore! All she ever does is study!
4. It was _________
so windy that our tent blew away!
5.We have _________
so much work to do, and _________
so little time left.
6. Harold and Greg are _________
such tall men that they can barely fit into airplane seats
when they fly.
7. Lily speaks _________
so fast that I can’t understand what she’s saying.
8. Lily is _________
such a fast speaker that I can’t understand what she’s saying.
9. My accounting exam was _________
such a nightmare!
10. They are _________
such idiots!
11. There are _________
so many children and _________
so few biscuits. We better buy some more!
12. That is _________
such a big ugly building! I can’t believe they actually built it in the centre
of London!