SO vs. SUCH

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SO vs. SUCH


SO and SUCH often have the same meaning : „very” or „to this degree”.

„So” is used before an adjective or an adverb (without a noun after it) e.g., so big, so carefully.

„Such” is followed by „a” or „an”, + an adjective + a singular noun e.g., such a long time, such an incredible story.

„Such” is used without a, an before plural nouns, mass nouns: luggage, furniture;
and abstract nouns: advice, courage, generosity, kindness e.g., such fools, such (beautiful) furniture, such generosity.
Compare the following sentences:
1.
This book is so interesting.
This is such an interesting book.
Such interesting books are hard to find.
2.
You are so intelligent.
You are such an intelligent person.
A person of such intelligence is a pleasure to meet.

---> SO with ADJECTIVES and ADVERBS
„So” can be combined with adjectives and adverbs to show extremes. This form is often used in exclamations. Examples:

The music is so loud! I wish they would turn it down.
She spoke so quickly! She sounded like an auctioneer.

USE with „that”
The above form can be combined with „that” to show extreme actions which lead to certain results. The „that" is usually optional. Examples:

The music is so loud (that) I can't sleep.
She spoke so quickly (that) I couldn't understand her.

---> So + Many / Few + Plural Noun
„So” can be combined with "many" or „few” plus a plural noun to show extremes in amount. This form is often used in exclamations. Examples:

I never knew you had so many dogs!
He has so few friends! It's really quite sad.

--->So + Much / Little + Non-countable Noun
„So” can be combined with „much” or „little” plus a non-countable noun to show extremes in amount. This form is often used in exclamations. Examples:

Kate earns so much money! And she still has trouble paying the rent.
They have so little food! We need to do something to help them.

---> So + Much / Little / Often / Rarely
„So” can be combined with words like „much”, „little”, „often”, or „rarely” to describe how much or how often someone does an action. This form is often used in exclamations. Examples:

John drinks so much! It's not good for his health.
My brother visits us so rarely! I really miss her.

Note: The above forms can be combined with "that" to show the results of extreme actions. The "that" is usually optional. Examples:

Kate earns so much money (that) she has lost all sense of what a dollar is worth.
John drinks so much (that) it is starting to interfere with his work.

---> Such + ADJECTIVE + NOUN
"Such" can be combined with an adjective and a noun to show extremes. This form is often used in exclamations. Compare:

1. such + a + (adjective) + singular noun + that + result e.g.,
They have such a big house! I think it's a little ridiculous.
She had such a long speech that everyone stopped paying attention to her.
They have such a big house (that) I actually got lost on the way to the bathroom.

2. such + plural / uncountable noun + that + result e.g.,
He has such big feet (that) he has to buy special shoes.
Woodward Restaurant has such good food (that) it's always full of people.
Kate has such beautiful eyes (that) she got a job as a make-up model.

As you see, the above forms can be combined with "that" to show extremes which lead to certain results. The "that" is usually optional.

---> Such + Judgemental Noun
"Such" can also be combined with judgemental nouns for emphasis. This form is often used in exclamations. Examples:

He is such an idiot! He says the stupidest things.
She is such a genius! We could never do this work without her.

The above form can be combined with "that" to show certain results. The "that" is usually optional. Examples:

He is such an idiot (that) nobody would hire him.
She is such a genius (that) they immediately gave her a position at the university.

---> Such + Noun (This type of...)
"Such" can also mean "this type of..." or "that type of..." Examples:

The archeologist had never seen such writing before he discovered the tablet. (this/that type of writing)
She usually doesn't receive such criticism. (this/that kind of criticism)
Frank has never made such mistakes before. (these/those kinds of mistakes)

---> Such-and-such
This is used to talk about a particular type of person or thing that doesn't need to be specified. It is an unstated generic placeholder. Examples:

People from such-and-such areas tend to be wealthy.
If you do such-and-such a job, you will become famous.

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