'So' and 'Such'

B1 Intermediate

Use 'so' and 'such' to add emphasis or show the result of a quality. They function as intensifiers, with 'so' modifying adjectives or adverbs and 'such' modifying noun phrases.

Overview

Both words are used to mean very or to a high degree. They are often used in exclamation or to explain a consequence using a that clause.

So is used with adjectives and adverbs.
Such is used with nouns or adjective-noun combinations.

Form

so + adjective/adverb | such + (a/an) + (adjective) + noun

The choice between these intensifiers depends entirely on the grammatical structure that follows them.

So vs. Such

Structure	Example
so + adjective	The weather is so hot.
so + adverb	They ran so quickly.
such + a/an + adjective + singular noun	It is such a hot day.
such + adjective + plural/uncountable noun	They are such kind people.

Examples

Common mistakes

It was so a long journey.
It was such a long journey.
Use 'such' when the adjective is followed by a noun.
The cake was such delicious.
The cake was so delicious.
Use 'so' when there is only an adjective and no noun.

Practice

The movie was ___ boring that we left the cinema early.
Show answer
so
Answer:so
Why:'Boring' is an adjective without a following noun, so 'so' is required.
They are ___ friendly neighbors.
Show answer
such
Answer:such
Why:'Friendly neighbors' is an adjective-noun phrase, which requires 'such'.
I have never seen ___ a large dog in my life.
Show answer
such
Answer:such
Why:The presence of the article 'a' and the noun 'dog' indicates that 'such' must be used.