SO and SUCH - What's the difference? IMPROVE your ENGLISH!

Summary

In this educational video, Arnel from Arnel's Everyday English clarifies the distinction between 'so' and 'such' through a four-step lesson. He explains that 'so' is used with adjectives or adverbs to mean 'very', and can be combined with 'many' or 'much' followed by a noun, depending on whether the noun is countable or uncountable. 'Such', on the other hand, is used before a noun, often with an adjective in between, and requires the correct use of 'a' or 'an' based on the noun's sound. Arnel also illustrates the structure 'so/such... that' to show cause and effect, providing clear examples for better understanding.

Takeaways

• 📝 'So' is used to mean 'very' and is followed by an adjective or adverb to emphasize a quality.
• 🍲 'So + adjective' is used to describe a high degree of a quality, e.g., 'so good'.
• 🎻 'So + adverb' is used to describe a high degree of manner, e.g., 'so beautifully'.
• 🤔 'So' can also be followed by 'many' or 'much' plus a noun, distinguishing countable and uncountable nouns.
• 🐶 Countable nouns, like 'dogs' or 'hats', are used with 'so many'.
• 💧 Uncountable nouns, like 'water' or 'information', are used with 'so much'.
• 🔍 'Such' is used with a noun and an optional adjective to indicate a high degree of a quality of the noun.
• 🌞 'Such a/an' is used before singular nouns, with 'a' or 'an' depending on the noun's initial sound.
• 🎭 'Such' with a plural or uncountable noun does not require 'a' or 'an', e.g., 'such parents'.
• 🔗 The structure 'so/such... that' is used to show a result or consequence of a situation.
• 🚶 'So/such... that' clauses explain why something happened, linking cause and effect.
• 👍 The video provides examples and natural pronunciation tips for using 'so' and 'such' correctly.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Arnel's Everyday English lesson in the provided transcript?

The main focus of the lesson is to understand the difference between the words 'so' and 'such' and their correct usage in sentences.

What does 'so' mean when it is compared with 'such' in the context of this lesson?

In the context of comparing 'so' with 'such', 'so' means 'very' and is used with adjectives or adverbs.

How does Arnel explain the use of 'so' with adjectives or adverbs?

Arnel provides examples such as 'so good' with an adjective and 'so beautifully' with an adverb to demonstrate the use of 'so'.

What is the difference between using 'so many' and 'so much' in sentences?

'So many' is used with countable nouns, while 'so much' is used with uncountable nouns.

How does Arnel define countable and uncountable nouns?

Countable nouns have a singular and plural form, like 'dog' and 'dogs'. Uncountable nouns do not have a singular or plural form, like 'water' or 'information'.

What is the correct way to use 'such' with a noun?

With 'such', you should use it followed by a noun, and an adjective can be placed in between. Also, 'a' or 'an' should be used before the noun depending on whether it starts with a consonant or vowel sound.

Why should 'a' or 'an' be combined with 'such' for a more natural sound?

Combining 'such' with 'a' or 'an' into one sound, like 'sucha', makes the sentence flow more naturally.

What is the difference between using 'so' and 'such' with the word 'many'?

You cannot use 'many' with 'such'. 'Such' should be followed by a noun without 'many', while 'so many' is the correct usage with 'so'.

How does Arnel illustrate the use of 'so' and 'such' followed by 'that'?

Arnel uses sentences like 'I was so tired that I went to bed early' and 'My neighbor is such a nice lady that I baked her cookies' to show the cause and effect relationship in sentences using 'so' and 'such' followed by 'that'.

What is the significance of the structure 'so...that' or 'such...that' in sentences?

The structure 'so...that' or 'such...that' is used to show the result of a situation or condition, indicating why something happened.

What is the final advice Arnel gives to his students regarding the lesson on 'so' and 'such'?

Arnel encourages his students to subscribe for more mini lessons and videos to enhance their understanding of English grammar.