The Difference Between SO and SUCH

Though SO and SUCH have similar meanings, there is a distinct difference between the use of these two words.

The main difference between so and such is that so is an adverb while such is a determiner.

In this article, we are going to look at the difference between so and such in details.

Table of Contents

• How to Use SO and SUCH
  
  • How to Use SO
    
    • So + Adjective/ Adverb
    • So + many/few + plural countable noun
    • So + much/little + uncountable noun
    • So + adjective/ adverb…+that…+ result
    • So + Much/ Little/ Often/ Rarely
      
  • How to Use SUCH
    • Such a + (adjective) + countable noun
    • Such + (adjective) + uncountable noun
    • Such + adjective + plural noun
    • Such (a) + (adj) + noun +…+that…+result
    • Such + noun
      
      
      
      

      How to Use SO and SUCH

      
      

      How to Use SO

      So + Adjective/ Adverb

      Use: To show extreme situation, and is often used in an exclamation.

      Example:

      • It’s so cold! I wish that I had a warmer coat.
      • It was so hot we couldn’t work.
      • She speaks so softly! It’s really difficult to hear her.
      • She paints so well!

      So + many/few + plural countable noun

      Use: To show extremes in amount.

      Example:

      • I never knew you had so many brothers!
      • She has so few friends! It’s really quite sad.

      So + much/little + uncountable noun

      Use: To show extremes in amount.

      Example:

      • Jame earns so much money! And he still has trouble paying the rent.
      • They have so little food! We need to do something to help them.

      So + adjective/ adverb…+that…+ result

      Use: This shows the result of an extreme situation. The “that” is usually optional.

      Example:

      • The teacher speaks so softly that it’s really difficult to hear her.

      So + Much/ Little/ Often/ Rarely

      Use: To describe how much or how often someone does an action.

      Example:

      • Earl drinks so much! It’s not good for his health.
      • My sister visits us so rarely! I really miss her.

      How to Use SUCH

      Such a + (adjective) + countable noun

      Use: To show emphasis, and is often used in an exclamation.

      Example:

      • David has such a big house! I think it’s a little ridiculous.
      • They’re such nice kids.

      Such + (adjective) + uncountable noun

      Example:

      • She has such big feet that she has to buy special shoes.
      • She always uses such fresh food.

      Such + adjective + plural noun

      Example:

      • They’re such nice kids.

      Such (a) + (adj) + noun +…+that…+result

      Use: To show certain results of what you are saying.

      Example:

      • He is such an idiot that nobody wants to be his friend.

      Such + noun

      Use: “Such” can also mean “this type of…”

      Example:

      • I have never seen such a film before. (…this type of film…)
      • The pilot had never flown such an airplane before. (…this type of airplane…)