<iframe src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScrcS70FPgDlbzpZiMpNh6m3qqZ_55dm8bHW_OBTKfA2hxQ7g/viewform?embedded=true" width="640" height="1732" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0">Loading…</iframe>What's the difference between 'so' and 'such'? When should I use one and not the other?
We use both to 'increase' the feeling we have for something.
Vocabulary
Hot - high temperature
Exciting - causing enthusiasm
Important - great value or significance
Ambitious - strong desire to succeed
Minuscule - very very small
Summary
So
Subject + verb 'be' + so + adjective
We use 'so' to increase an adjective when the adjective is on it's own.
Such
Subject + verb 'be' + such + noun phrase
We use 'such' to increase an adjective when the adjective is in a noun phrase.
What's a noun phrase?
A noun phrase is a noun with other words which make the noun more specific.
Book - noun
The book - noun phrase
The interesting book - noun phrase (with an adjective)
The interesting book I was reading - noun phrase
Examples
Hot
It is so hot.
We use 'so' like we use 'very'. It comes before the adjective.
It is such a hot day.
To use 'such' in a similar way you need to make the phrase after 'such' a noun phrase.
Exciting
The film was so exciting.
Subject + verb 'be' + so + adjective
It was such an exciting film.
Subject + verb 'be' + such + noun phrase (including the adjective)
Important
This document is so important.
This is such an important document.
In these examples the subject has changed. It changed because in the 'such' example we need the 'noun' (document) in the 'noun phrase' (an important document).
Ambitious
He is so ambitious.
He is such an ambitious man.
Minuscule
That snowflake over there is so minuscule.
That over there is such a minuscule snowflake.
What's happened to the subjects here? We took the 'noun' (snowflake) and moved it into the 'noun phrase' so the 'such a' phrase can be used.
More complicated sentences
So: Going to that restaurant was so exciting.
Such: That was such an exciting restaurant to go to.
What happened?
The subject of the 'so' sentence is 'Going to that restaurant'. This is noun phrase. To make the 'such' sentence we need to move the 'noun phrase' to the back. Therefore, the subject becomes 'that' and the noun phrase is moved. 'Going' is changed to 'go' because we need the 'to', and you can't say 'to going'.
So: I can't see the crack because it is so minuscule.
Such: I can't see it (the crack) because it's such a minuscule crack.
What happened? The noun (crack) is needed in the noun phrase. In the 'such' sentence that is at the end. However, we need it (the crack) in the first clause (I can't see...). Rather than say 'the crack' twice, we can replace the first 'the crack' with it. We can't replace the noun in the noun phrase with 'it'.
Such: I can't see the crack because it's such a minuscule it. (wrong)
Uncountable nouns
If the noun phrase includes an 'uncountable noun' then the sentence looks like this:
That is such useful information.
There is no 'a' between 'such' and 'useful'. Other examples:
That was such delicious pizza.
They have such beautiful furniture.
Conclusion
so + adjective
such + noun phrase (which includes the adjective)