Grammar

“So” and “such”

It’s 11 a.m. on 31 December. Almost everyone in the company has taken the day off.

Molly: The office is so quiet today. The phone hasn’t rung once all morning.

Louise: Well, nobody’s going to call on New Year’s Eve, are they? Ellen’s such a spoilsport, making us come in today.

Molly: Oh, I don’t mind. It’s nice to have so little work for a change. It gives me time to do a bit of online shopping. I got so many gift vouchers for Christmas I can’t decide what to buy!

Louise: Well, I’d rather have the day off.

Molly: But you’re going on holiday soon anyway, aren’t you?

Louise: Yes. We’re off to Morocco on Saturday. I’m so looking forward to it!

Molly: Lucky you! Morocco’s such a beautiful country. Such friendly people, too. And the food! Never before have I gained so much weight in so short a time!

[five hours later]

Louise: Time to go home, Molly!

Molly: Is it really? I had no idea it was so late! Happy New Year, Louise! See you in 2019!

Explanations

“So” is used before an adjective (when this is not followed by a noun):

The office is so quiet today.

“So” is used before an adverb:

I had no idea it was so late!

“So” is used before the quantifiers “little”, “much”, “many” and “few”:

It’s nice to have so little work for a change.

I got so many gift vouchers for Christmas… Never before have I gained so much weight…

In informal style, “so” can be used before verbs that express feelings:

I’m so looking forward to it!

In a more formal style, people occasionally use the construction “so” + adjective + “a”/“an” + noun: Never before have I gained so much weight in so short a time!

“Such” is used before a noun. With singular countable nouns, place “such” before, not after, the indefinite article “a”/“an”:

Ellen’s such a spoilsport.

“Such” is also used before an adjective + noun:

Such friendly people, too.

Where there is an indefinite article, “such” comes before it:

Morocco’s such a beautiful country.

Expressions containing “so” and “such” can be followed by a “that”-clause:

I got so many gift vouchers for Christmas (that) I can’t decide what to buy!

Note: Adding emphasis by using “so” or “such” is more typical of spoken English than written English. In a more formal style, people often prefer words such as “very” or “extremely”:

I am very pleased to inform you that your application has been accepted.

It is extremely important to check the temperature regularly.