So and Such Exercises
Do more with this exercise
So strengthens a description; such introduces a noun phrase
Use so before an adjective or adverb alone. Use such before a descriptive noun phrase, with a/an for a singular countable noun. For quantity, use so much/many before a noun. These patterns can lead to a result clause with that.
- So + adjective:
- The film was so funny that we laughed all evening. No noun follows funny here.
- So + adverb:
- She spoke so quietly that I could not hear her. Quietly describes how she spoke.
- Such a/an + singular noun:
- It was such a funny film that we watched it twice. The phrase includes a singular countable noun.
- Such + plural/uncountable noun:
- They were such friendly people. / It was such good news. Do not add a before a plural or uncountable noun.
- So much/many:
- For quantity, use so much + uncountable noun or so many + plural noun: so much time, so many books.
Examples
The test was so difficult that I needed more time.
so before an adjective alone
It was such a difficult test that I needed more time.
such a before a singular noun phrase
She ran so quickly that we could not catch her.
so before an adverb
They were such kind people that we felt welcome.
such before a plural noun phrase
We had so much work that we stayed late.
so much before an uncountable noun
Audio uses a synthetic voice.
Practice exercises
Choose so or such
Choose the expression that fits the adjective, adverb or noun phrase that follows.
1.The soup was ___ hot that I waited before eating it.
2.It was ___ cold day that we stayed inside.
3.She spoke ___ softly that nobody heard her.
4.They are ___ helpful neighbours that everyone likes them.
5.We had ___ time that we visited the museum too.
6.He has ___ books that he needs another shelf.
Complete the result sentence
Use so, such, such a, so much or so many. Type only the missing expression.
Fix so and such
Replace the incorrect expression with the one that fits the following words. Keep the rest of the sentence.
13.Choose the mistake in this sentence.
14.Choose the mistake in this sentence.
15.Choose the mistake in this sentence.
16.Choose the mistake in this sentence.
17.Choose the mistake in this sentence.
18.Choose the mistake in this sentence.
Build a strong description with so or such
So and such strengthen a description. If an adjective or adverb stands alone, choose so: “The room was so quiet” or “She spoke so quietly.” Use such for a descriptive noun phrase: “It was such a quiet room.” Quantity has its own pattern: so much with an uncountable noun and so many with a plural noun.
A singular countable noun needs a or an after such: “such a kind person” and “such an interesting book.” Plural and uncountable nouns do not take a: “such kind people” and “such good news.” For large quantities, another useful pattern is so much with an uncountable noun and so many with a plural noun.
Many sentences add that to explain the result. Compare “The test was so hard that I needed help” with “It was such a hard test that I needed help.” The result is the same, but the form before that changes because the second description includes the noun *test*.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between so and such?
So goes before an adjective or adverb alone; such goes before a descriptive noun phrase: “so cold” but “such a cold day.” For quantity, use so much or so many before a noun.
When do I add a after such?
Add a or an before a singular countable noun: “such a good idea” or “such an interesting book.” Do not add it before a plural or uncountable noun.
Is it so much time or such much time?
Use so much time. Much goes with an uncountable noun, and so many goes with a plural noun: “so many books.”
Can so and such be followed by that?
Yes. A that-clause can state the result: “It was so cold that we stayed home” or “It was such a cold day that we stayed home.”
Answer key
1. The soup was ___ hot that I waited before eating it.
Answer: so
Hot is an adjective without a following noun, so use so.
2. It was ___ cold day that we stayed inside.
Answer: such a
Cold day is a singular countable noun phrase, so use such a.
3. She spoke ___ softly that nobody heard her.
Answer: so
Softly is an adverb, so use so.
4. They are ___ helpful neighbours that everyone likes them.
Answer: such
A plural noun phrase follows, so use such without a.
5. We had ___ time that we visited the museum too.
Answer: so much
For a large quantity of uncountable time, use so much.
6. He has ___ books that he needs another shelf.
Answer: so many
For a large quantity of plural books, use so many.
7. The room was ___ noisy that we left.
Answer: so
Noisy is an adjective without a noun after it, so use so.
8. It was ___ noisy room that we left.
Answer: such a
Noisy room is a singular noun phrase, so use such a.
9. He answered ___ politely that everyone thanked him.
Answer: so
Politely is an adverb, so use so.
10. They told ___ interesting stories that we listened for hours.
Answer: such
A plural noun phrase follows, so use such without a.
11. We had ___ work that we stayed late.
Answer: so much
Work is uncountable, so use so much.
12. She has ___ friends that she is never lonely.
Answer: so many
Friends is plural, so use so many.
13. The film was such funny that we laughed.
Answer: The film was so funny that we laughed.
Before an adjective without a noun, use so.
14. It was so funny film that we watched it twice.
Answer: It was such a funny film that we watched it twice.
A singular countable noun phrase takes such a.
15. She spoke such quietly that I missed her words.
Answer: She spoke so quietly that I missed her words.
Before an adverb, use so.
16. They are such a kind people that everyone trusts them.
Answer: They are such kind people that everyone trusts them.
A plural noun phrase takes such without a.
17. We had such much work that we stayed late.
Answer: We had so much work that we stayed late.
For a large quantity of uncountable work, use so much.
18. There were so much books that we needed another shelf.
Answer: There were so many books that we needed another shelf.
For a large quantity of plural books, use so many.