# so

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/so
Updated: 2026-07-09

## Senses

### 1. showing a result

conjunction · CEFR A1

you use this to show the result of something.

For teachers: used to introduce a clause that expresses the consequence or result of a preceding statement.

- The shop was closed, so we went to the supermarket instead.
- The primary investor withdrew his support at the last minute, so the board was forced to postpone the product launch indefinitely.

Usage: usually placed between two clauses, often preceded by a comma.

### 2. showing a purpose

conjunction · CEFR B1 · Informal

a shorter way to say 'so that' to explain why you do something.

For teachers: a reduced form of 'so that', introducing a subordinate clause of purpose or intended result.

- I'll leave the key under the mat so you can get in.
- He adjusted the microphone height so the guest speaker could be heard clearly by the audience in the back row.

Usage: often used in speech where 'so that' would be used in formal writing.

### 3. very or extremely

adverb · CEFR A1

you use this to make an adjective or adverb stronger.

For teachers: an intensifier used to indicate a high degree or extent.

- I am so tired that I could sleep for twelve hours.
- The evidence presented during the trial was so compelling that the jury reached a verdict in less than an hour.

Usage: placed immediately before an adjective or another adverb.

### 4. in the same way

adverb · CEFR A2

used to avoid repeating a word or to say 'also'.

For teachers: a pro-form used to refer back to a previously mentioned action, state, or quality to avoid repetition.

- If you are hungry, then so am I.
- The CEO believes the merger will be successful, and his senior partners think so too.

Usage: often used in short responses like 'I think so' or 'So do I'.

### 5. starting a new topic

interjection · CEFR A2 · Informal

used to start a new part of a conversation or to ask a question.

For teachers: a discourse marker used to initiate a new topic, resume a conversation, or introduce a summary.

- So, what did you think of the movie we saw last night?
- So, having reviewed the quarterly figures, let us move on to the proposed budget for next year.

Usage: usually placed at the very beginning of a sentence.

### 6. that thing mentioned

pronoun · CEFR B1

used to represent a fact or situation that was just talked about.

For teachers: a demonstrative pronoun referring to a previously stated fact, condition, or situation.

- Is he coming to the party? I hope so.
- The doctor suggested that the recovery would be slow, and unfortunately, it proved to be so.

Usage: commonly follows verbs of thinking, saying, or believing.

## Examples

- It was raining, so I took an umbrella.
- The store was closed for renovations, so we had to drive to the next town to buy groceries.
- The experimental data failed to support the initial hypothesis, so the research team decided to pivot their focus toward a different chemical catalyst.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.