Differences between so and such
So and such are two expressions that, in the English language, refer to –so- or –so much-. However, their uses and applications are different. Therefore, in this article we will give a clear and precise explanation of the uses and applications of these two frequently used words that often confuse those who are learning the English language.
SW
-So- is a word that translates into Spanish as –tan- or –tanto- depending on the context of the sentence. Its use is combined before an adjective or an adverb, emphasizing that adjectives modify nouns and adverbs modify verbs. Therefore, we use -so- when we want to give more emphasis to the adjective or when we want to give more emphasis to the adverb. In addition, it is used as a comparative when in a sentence it is accompanied by the word –that- (so… that).
On the other hand, -so- is used with the meaning of -both- to talk about countable and uncountable nouns when accompanied by the words much or many. In countable nouns it can also mean -so little- when accompanied by the word -little-. Finally, -so- is also used to avoid repeating something that has been said before in very specific expressions.
Examples:
- He is so happy (He is so happy), emphasizes the adjective.
- She dances so beautifully, emphasizes the adverb.
- I’m so hungry that I could eat a horse, comparative.
- I have so much homework, uncountable noun.
- I have read so many books, countable noun.
- He has so little work to do today, countable noun.
- I told you so! (I told you), to avoid repeating what was said.
such
-Such- is a word that is translated into Spanish as -tan- or -tanto- depending on the context of the sentence. –Such- is always used before a noun, although it can also go before an adjective but followed by a noun. It is used with adjectives to show extremes, that is, to magnify the adjective that modifies the noun. Also, we can use –such- with –that- to show endpoints that end in a result. Also, it is used to emphasize critical nouns.
- That is such a pretty dress! (that dress is so beautiful) show the extreme or magnify the adjective
- It was such a lovely day that we decided to go to the beach, shows an end that ends in a result.
- He is such a jerk, emphasizes a critical noun
According to what was mentioned above, the differences between so and such are the following:
- So is used to emphasize an adjective or an adverb while such is used to emphasize a critical noun or an adjective as long as it modifies a noun, that is, the adjective is followed by a noun.