Hello English learners! Today, we’re going to learn about two very useful words in English: so and such. These words help us to show the degree or intensity of something. They are common in everyday conversations and will really help you improve your spoken English and sound more natural. This lesson is perfect for A2 level learners who want to understand and use so and such in English correctly. Let’s get started!

What are ‘So’ and ‘Such’? Understanding the Basics

Both so and such are used to express that something is to a great extent. Think of them as ways to add emphasis. They make your sentences more expressive and interesting. However, we use them in slightly different ways.

So is usually used before adjectives and adverbs. It tells us ‘how much’ or ‘to what degree’ something is. For example, if something is very hot, you can say it’s so hot.

Such is used before adjective + noun combinations. It emphasizes the kind or quality of something. For example, if you see a very beautiful flower, you might say it’s such a beautiful flower.

Let’s look closer at how to use each of these words.

How to Use ‘So’ in English Grammar

We mainly use so to modify adjectives and adverbs. This means we put so right before the adjective or adverb we want to emphasize.

‘So’ + Adjective

When we use so with an adjective, we are saying that something has a very high degree of that quality. Here are some examples:

• The coffee is so hot! I need to wait before I drink it. (Here, ‘hot’ is the adjective, and so makes it stronger.)
• She is so happy to see you. (Here, ‘happy’ is the adjective, and so emphasizes her happiness.)
• The movie was so funny, I laughed a lot. (Here, ‘funny’ is the adjective, and so makes it clear the movie was very funny.)
• This book is so interesting, I can’t put it down. (Here, ‘interesting’ is the adjective, and so shows how interesting the book is.)
• He is so tall, he can reach the top shelf easily. (Here, ‘tall’ is the adjective, and so emphasizes his height.)

Notice how so always comes directly before the adjective. This is the key to using it correctly.

‘So’ + Adverb

We can also use so with adverbs. Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, often telling us ‘how’ something is done. When we use so with an adverb, we emphasize the way something is done.

• He speaks English so fluently. (Here, ‘fluently’ is the adverb, describing how he speaks, and so emphasizes his fluency.)
• She runs so quickly! (Here, ‘quickly’ is the adverb, describing how she runs, and so emphasizes her speed.)
• They learn so easily. (Here, ‘easily’ is the adverb, describing how they learn, and so emphasizes their ease of learning.)
• Please walk so quietly, the baby is sleeping. (Here, ‘quietly’ is the adverb, describing how to walk, and so emphasizes the need for quietness.)
• The music plays so loudly. (Here, ‘loudly’ is the adverb, describing how the music plays, and so emphasizes the volume.)

Just like with adjectives, so comes right before the adverb to strengthen its meaning. This is a great way to improve your English grammar and make your sentences more impactful.

How to Use ‘Such’ in English Grammar

Now let’s learn about such. Remember, we use such before a combination of an adjective and a noun. It emphasizes the kind or quality described by the adjective and noun together.

‘Such’ + Adjective + Noun

The structure is always such + adjective + noun. Sometimes, we also use ‘a’ or ‘an’ after such depending on the noun. If the noun is singular and countable, we use ‘a’ or ‘an’. If the noun is plural or uncountable, we don’t use ‘a’ or ‘an’.

Here are some examples to help you understand:

• It’s such a nice day today! Let’s go for a walk. (Here, ‘nice’ is the adjective, ‘day’ is the noun, and ‘a’ is used because ‘day’ is singular and countable. Such a nice day emphasizes the quality of the day.)
• They are such friendly people. We always enjoy visiting them. (Here, ‘friendly’ is the adjective, ‘people’ is the noun, and we don’t use ‘a’ because ‘people’ is plural. Such friendly people emphasizes their kind of personality.)
• This is such a delicious cake! Did you bake it yourself? (Here, ‘delicious’ is the adjective, ‘cake’ is the noun, and ‘a’ is used because ‘cake’ is singular and countable. Such a delicious cake emphasizes how tasty the cake is.)
• It was such an amazing movie! I want to see it again. (Here, ‘amazing’ is the adjective, ‘movie’ is the noun, and ‘an’ is used because ‘movie’ is singular and countable and ‘amazing’ starts with a vowel sound. Such an amazing movie emphasizes how wonderful the movie was.)
• We had such fun at the party! (Here, ‘fun’ is the noun, and there’s no adjective. Sometimes ‘fun’ acts like a noun in this structure. ‘Fun’ is also uncountable, so no ‘a’ or ‘an’. Such fun emphasizes the amount of enjoyment.)

Remember the pattern: such + adjective + noun (and sometimes ‘a/an’ in between). Practicing this structure will greatly improve your English speaking practice and writing.

Common Mistakes with ‘So’ and ‘Such’

Learners sometimes make a few common mistakes when using so and such. Let’s look at them so you can avoid them!

• Mistake 1: Using ‘so’ before a noun.
  Incorrect: It is so a beautiful day.
  Correct: It is such a beautiful day. (Use such before adjective + noun) OR It is so beautiful today. (Use so before just the adjective)
• Mistake 2: Using ‘such’ before only an adjective.
  Incorrect: She is such happy.
  Correct: She is so happy. (Use so before just the adjective) OR She is such a happy person. (Use such before adjective + noun)
• Mistake 3: Forgetting ‘a/an’ after ‘such’ with singular countable nouns.
  Incorrect: It’s such nice day.
  Correct: It’s such a nice day. (Remember ‘a/an’ with singular countable nouns after ‘such’)

Keep these common mistakes in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to using so and such correctly!

Let’s Practice! So and Such Exercises

Now it’s time to practice what you’ve learned! Fill in the blanks with either so or such. Choose the best word for each sentence.

Fill in the Blanks

1. The weather is ______ lovely today. We should go outside.
2. They are ______ kind people, always ready to help.
3. This coffee is ______ strong! I can’t drink it all.
4. It was ______ a long journey, we were all tired.
5. She speaks Spanish ______ well, you’d think she’s from Spain.
6. He is ______ a talented musician. His concerts are amazing.
7. The music is ______ loud, can you turn it down?
8. They had ______ a great time at the beach.
9. She is ______ intelligent, she learns everything quickly.
10. It’s ______ a difficult question, I don’t know the answer.

Answers

1. The weather is so lovely today. We should go outside.
2. They are such kind people, always ready to help.
3. This coffee is so strong! I can’t drink it all.
4. It was such a long journey, we were all tired.
5. She speaks Spanish so well, you’d think she’s from Spain.
6. He is such a talented musician. His concerts are amazing.
7. The music is so loud, can you turn it down?
8. They had such a great time at the beach.
9. She is so intelligent, she learns everything quickly.
10. It’s such a difficult question, I don’t know the answer.

Practice Speaking with Lingofrnd

Great job on the practice exercises! Now that you understand how to use so and such, the best way to improve is to practice speaking! Using these words in conversation will make your English sound more natural and expressive.

To get even more practice and boost your spoken English practice, why not try Lingofrnd.com? Lingofrnd is an AI spoken English teacher that can help you practice using so and such and many other grammar points in real conversations. It’s a fantastic tool for English for beginners and A2 level learners looking to improve their English pronunciation tips and overall fluency.

You can practice speaking about topics you enjoy, and Lingofrnd will give you feedback to help you improve. It’s like having a friendly English tutor in your pocket! Ready to start speaking more confidently? Visit Lingofrnd.com today and Download App to practice anytime, anywhere.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve learned how to use so and such in English. Remember, so is used before adjectives and adverbs, and such is used before adjective + noun combinations. Keep practicing, and you’ll become more confident in using these words in your everyday English. Don’t forget to check out Lingofrnd.com to practice speaking and continue your journey to improve English vocabulary and grammar. Happy learning!