So and such
so + adjective (so cold) vs such + (a) noun phrase (such a cold day); so...that / such...that results
I can choose so or such by what follows and build so/such...that results.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
It was such a quiet street that we could hear the snow landing.
It was such a quiet street that we could hear the snow landing.
The queue moved so slowly that two people finished their audiobooks.
The queue moved so slowly that two people finished their audiobooks.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
What follows decides:
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| so + adjective/adverb | It was so cold. He drives so fast. |
| such + (a/an) (adj) noun | It was such a cold day. Such nonsense! |
| so + much/many/few/little | so many people, so much noise |
| result clauses | so cold that the lake froze / such a storm that... |
Article position flips: so cold a day is bookish; normal is such a cold day. Exclamations: So kind of you! Such a pity!
- *so a cold day → such a cold day
- *such cold → so cold (no noun follows)
Common Error Patterns
so before noun phrases
Noun phrase → such; bare adjective → so
Result clause unmarked
so/such ... that + consequence
It was such a quiet street that we could hear the snow landing.
It was such a quiet street that we could hear the snow landing.
such + noun phrase + that-result.
The queue moved so slowly that two people finished their audiobooks.
The queue moved so slowly that two people finished their audiobooks.
so + adverb + that-result.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises