FluencyLab
GrammarHub
Express strong degree with so before adjectives/adverbs, such before noun phrases and so much/many before nouns.
Overview
Express strong degree with so before adjectives/adverbs, such before noun phrases and so much/many before nouns.
Form and rules
Use so + adjective/adverb: so difficult, so quickly.
Use such + (a/an) + adjective + noun: such a difficult test; such good advice.
Use so much + uncountable noun and so many + plural countable noun.
So...that and such...that can introduce a result.
Do not mix structures: say so interesting or such an interesting book.
A closer look
So...that and such...that can introduce a result.
Do not mix structures: say so interesting or such an interesting book.
Examples
The test was so difficult.
It was such a useful meeting.
We have so much work today.
There were so many people that we left.
She spoke so quietly that I couldn't hear.
Common mistakes
Before an adjective without a noun, use so.
Before adjective + singular countable noun, use such a/an.
Ready to practise?
The test combines multiple choice, gap completion, error correction, and sentence building so students have to recognise and produce the grammar, not simply reread the rule.