Unit 102. So and such
Unit 102; Part A
Compare so and such: | We use so + adjective/adverb: so stupid so quick so nice so quickly • I didn't like the book. The story was so stupid. • I like Liz and Joe. They are so nice. | We use such + noun: such a story such people We also use such + adjective + noun: such a stupid story such nice people • I didn't like the book. It was such a stupid story. (not a so stupid story) • I like Liz and Joe. They are such nice people. (not so nice people) We say such a ... (not a such): • such a big dog (not a such big dog) |
Unit 102; Part B
So and such make the meaning of an adjective (or adverb) stronger:| • It's a beautiful day, isn't it? It's so warm. (= really warm) • It's difficult to understand him because he talks so quietly. | • It was a great holiday. We had such a good time. (= a really good time) |
| You can use so ... that: • The book was so good that I couldn't put it down. | You can use such ... that: • It was such a good book that I couldn't put it down. |
| • I was so tired that I fell asleep in the armchair. | • It was such nice weather that we spent the whole day on the beach. |
| We usually leave out that: • I was so tired I fell asleep. | We usually leave out that: • It was such nice weather we spent ... |
Unit 102; Part C
We also use so and such with the meaning 'like this':| • Somebody told me the house was built 100 years ago. I didn't realize it was so old. (= as old as it is) • I'm tired because I got up at six. I don't usually get up so early. • I expected the weather to be cooler. I'm surprised it is so warm. | • I didn't realise it was such an old house. • You know it's not true. How can you say such a thing? Note the expression no such ... : • You won't find the word 'blid' in the dictionary. There's no such word. (= this word does not exist) |
Unit 102; Part D
Compare: | so long • I haven't seen her for so long I've forgotten what she looks like. | such a long time • I haven't seen her for such a long time. (not so long time) |
| so far • I didn't know it was so far. | such a long way • I didn't know it was such a long way. |
| so much, so many • I'm sorry I'm late - there was so much traffic. | such a lot (of) • I'm sorry I'm late - there was such a lot of traffic. |
Exercises
Put in so, such or such a.Key.4 so
5 so
6 such a
7 so
8 such
9 such a
10 such a
11 so
12 so ... such
13 so
14 such a
15 such a
1 It's difficult to understand him because he speaks so quietly.
2 I like Liz and Joe. They're such nice people.
3 It was a great holiday. We had such a good time.
4 I was surprised that he looked ________ well after his recent illness.
5 Everything is ________ expensive these days, isn't it?
6 The weather is beautiful, isn't it? I didn't expect it to be ________ nice day.
7 I have to go. I didn't realise it was ________ late.
8 He always looks good. He wears ________ nice clothes.
9 It was ________ boring film that I fell asleep while I was watching it.
10 I couldn't believe the news. It was ________ shock.
11 I think she works too hard. She looks ________ tired all the time.
12 The food at the hotel was ________ awful. I've never eaten ________ awful food.
13 They've got ________ much money they don't know what to do with it.
14 I didn't realise you lived ________ long way from the city centre.
15 The party was really great. It was ________ pity you couldn't come.
Make one sentence from two. Use so or such.Key.3 I was so tired (that) I couldn't keep my eyes open.
4 We had such a good time on holiday (that) we didn't want to come home.
5 She speaks English so well (that) you would think it was her native language, or She speaks such good English (that) ...
6 I've got such a lot to do (that) I don't know where to begin. or I've got so much to do (that) ...
7 The music was so loud (that) you could hear it from miles away.
8 I had such a big breakfast (that) I didn't eat anything else for the rest of the day.
9 It was such horrible weather (that) we spent the whole day indoors.
10 I was so surprised (that) I didn't know what to say.
1 2 3 I was tired. 4 We had a good time on holiday. 5 She speaks English well. 6 I've got a lot to do. 7 The music was loud. 8 I had a big breakfast. 9 It was horrible weather. 10 I was surprised. | You could hear it from miles away. You would think it was her native language. We spent the whole day indoors. I couldn't keep my eyes open. I didn't eat anything else for the rest of the day. I didn't know what to say. I don't know where to begin. We didn't want to come home. |
2 It was such a beatiful day we decided to go to the beach.
3 It was ___________________________________________________
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Use your own ideas to complete these pairs of sentences.Key.Example answers:
2 a She's so friendly.
b She's such a nice person.
3 a It's so lively.
b It's such an exciting place.
4 a It's so exhausting.
b It's such a difficult job.
5 a I haven't seen you for so long.
b I haven't seen you for such a long time.
1 a We enjoyed our holiday. It was so relaxing .
b We enjoyed our holiday. We had such a good time .
2 a I like Catherine. She's so ______________.
b I like Catherine. She's such ______________.
3 a I like New York. It's so ______________.
b I like New York. It's such ______________.
4 a I wouldn't like to be a teacher. It's so ______________.
b I wouldn't like to be a teacher. It's such ______________.
5 a It's great to see you again! I haven't seen you for so ______________.
b It's great to see you again! I haven't seen you for such ______________.
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