00 / Other
Inversion after "so/such"
Inversion after 'so' and 'such' is a rhetorical device used to emphasize the degree or quality of an action or state by placing the adjective or noun phrase at the beginning of the sentence.
C1Advanced
01 / Overview
Inversion after so and such shifts the focus to the intensity of a description. This structure is primarily found in formal writing, literature, or emphatic speech. It requires the subject and the auxiliary verb to swap positions, similar to the structure of a question.
02 / Form
So + adjective/adverb + auxiliary + subject + that...
When using so, the adjective or adverb moves to the front. When using such, the noun phrase (usually be + noun) moves to the front. If no auxiliary verb is present in the standard sentence, do/does/did must be inserted.
03 / So vs. Such
Use so to modify adjectives or adverbs. Use such to emphasize a noun or the entire situation, often replacing 'The [noun] was so great that...'
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| So + Adjective | So beautiful was the performance that the audience wept. |
| Such + Be + Noun | Such was the force of the wind that trees were uprooted. |
04 / Examples
05 / Common mistakes
So cold it was that the pipes froze.
So cold was it that the pipes froze.
The subject and verb must invert after the initial 'so' phrase.
Such the noise was that I couldn't sleep.
Such was the noise that I couldn't sleep.
When using 'such' for inversion, the verb 'be' typically follows 'such' immediately.
06 / Practice
Rewrite using inversion: The rain was so heavy that the streets flooded.
Show answer
Answer: So heavy was the rain that the streets flooded.
Why: The adjective 'heavy' moves to the front with 'so', followed by the inverted verb 'was' and the subject 'the rain'.
Rewrite using inversion: His anger was such that he couldn't speak.
Show answer
Answer: Such was his anger that he couldn't speak.
Why: In formal inversion with 'such', the word 'such' begins the sentence followed by the verb 'be' and the noun phrase.
Complete the sentence: So loudly ____ (they / shout) that the neighbors complained.
Show answer
Answer: did they shout
Why: Because the original verb 'shout' is in the past tense and is not an auxiliary, 'did' must be used for the inversion.