English — so and such
Both so and such add emphasis, but they attach to different things: so goes with an adjective or adverb (so tired, so quickly), while such goes with a noun phrase (such a mess). Add that after either to state a result: so tired that I fell asleep, such a mess that we couldn't move.
How it works
Use so directly before an adjective or adverb: so tired, so cold, so quickly. Use such before a noun phrase, keeping the article: such a mess, such good news, such lovely weather. When a countable singular noun follows, such takes a/an (such a long day), but so puts the article after the adjective: so long a day.
Examples
| Structure | Example | Use |
|---|---|---|
| so + adjective | The soup was so hot. | so before an adjective |
| so + adverb | She spoke so quietly. | so before an adverb |
| such (a) + noun | It was such a surprise. | such with a singular countable noun |
| such + adjective + noun | They are such kind people. | such with a plural or uncountable noun (no article) |
| so ... that | I was so tired that I fell asleep. | result after so + adjective |
| such ... that | It was such a mess that we couldn't move. | result after such + noun phrase |
Good to know
The commonest mistake is putting so before a noun. Say such a nice day, not so a nice day. The reverse also matters: use so, not such, before a bare adjective — so happy, not such happy. In the that-clause, that is often dropped in speech: I was so tired I fell asleep.