Practice
So and such: show degree and result
Sign in to saveSo and such both make a description stronger. The choice depends on the word that follows: use so with an adjective or adverb, and use such with a noun or noun phrase.
Use so before an adjective or adverb and such before a noun phrase to show a strong degree and its result.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
It was such a useful map that we kept it in the car. /ɪt wəz sʌtʃ ə ˈjuːsfəl mæp ðæt wi kept ɪt ɪn ðə kɑː/
The short answer
Use so plus an adjective or adverb. Use such plus a noun phrase. Add that and the result when you want to explain the consequence.
The room was so quiet that I could hear the clock.
Why it works: Quiet is an adjective, so it follows so. The that clause gives the result.
4 more examples
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The bus was so late that we missed the beginning of the film.
Late is an adjective that describes the bus.
Not this:It was
such a late busthat we missed the beginning of the film. What changes: Such goes before the whole noun phrase a late bus, not before late alone. -
It was such a useful map that we kept it in the car.
Map is a singular countable noun, so use such a before the noun phrase.
Not this:The map was
so usefulthat we kept it in the car. What changes: So is correct when useful is the adjective after was. -
They were such helpful neighbors that everyone knew them.
Helpful neighbors is a plural noun phrase, so no a or an is needed.
Not this:Their neighbors were
so helpfulthat everyone knew them. What changes: So is correct when helpful appears as the adjective after were. -
We had such terrible weather that the picnic was canceled.
Weather is uncountable, so use such without a or an.
Not this:The weather was
so terriblethat the picnic was canceled. What changes: So is correct when terrible is the adjective after was.
Read the full guide
Look at the next word before you choose. If the sentence continues with an adjective or adverb, choose so. If it continues with a noun or a noun phrase, choose such. Then add a result clause only when the consequence matters to your meaning.
Choose by the word that follows
Start with the word after so or such. An adjective or adverb needs so. A noun or noun phrase needs such. This first check usually gives you the right form.
The train was so slow that we arrived late.
Slow is an adjective after was, so the sentence uses so.
Use so with adjectives and adverbs
Use so before an adjective, often after be, seem, feel, or become. Use so before an adverb when it describes an action. The sentence can end there, or it can continue with that and a result.
She explained the instructions so clearly that nobody asked a question.
Clearly is an adverb that describes how she explained, so so is the correct choice.
Choose the form: The suitcase was so heavy or The suitcase was such heavy?
Use so heavy because heavy is an adjective. Add a noun phrase after such: such a heavy suitcase.
Use such with a singular countable noun
Before one countable noun, use such a or such an. Put an adjective between a or an and the noun when you need one. The noun is the reason that such is used.
It was such an interesting talk that the audience stayed after the event.
Talk is a singular countable noun. The phrase uses such an because interesting begins with a vowel sound.
Which phrase is correct before one long day: so long day or such a long day?
Use such a long day because day is the singular countable noun in the phrase.
Use such with plural and uncountable nouns
Use such before plural nouns and uncountable nouns. Do not add a or an in these patterns. An adjective can come before the noun, but the noun still controls the choice.
They had such useful suggestions that the plan changed.
Suggestions is plural, so the phrase is such useful suggestions.
We had such little time that we took a taxi.
Time is uncountable in this sentence, so such comes before the noun phrase.
Add a result when it helps the meaning
A that clause can explain what happened because the quality or amount was strong. You do not need a result clause in every sentence. Use one when it adds information the reader needs.
There were so many people that we had to wait outside.
So many comes before the plural quantity people. The that clause explains the result.
Write the result after this phrase: It was such good news that ...
You can write It was such good news that we called the family right away. Good news is an uncountable noun phrase after such.
Before you go
Remember this
Choose so before an adjective or adverb. Choose such before a noun phrase. With a singular countable noun, use such a or such an. A that clause can show the result of the strong degree.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "So and such: show degree and result"
What is the difference between so and such?
Use so before an adjective or adverb, such as so quiet or so clearly. Use such before a noun phrase, such as such a useful map or such helpful neighbors.
The room was so quiet that I could hear the clock.
When do I use such a or such an?
Use such a or such an before a singular countable noun phrase. Choose an when the next word begins with a vowel sound, as in such an interesting talk.
It was such a quiet room that I could hear the clock.
Can I use so with a noun?
Use so much or so many with quantities, such as so much work or so many people. For an ordinary noun phrase, use such, as in such good news or such useful suggestions.
The bus was so late that we missed the beginning of the film.
Do so and such always need that?
No. Add that when you want to state the result of the strong degree. You can also stop after the phrase when the result is already clear from the context.
It was such a late bus that we missed the beginning of the film.
Which word comes after so and such?
After so, use an adjective or adverb. After such, use a noun phrase. Checking the next word or phrase helps you choose the form before you write the result.
It was such a useful map that we kept it in the car.