So that / Such that: emphasizing qualities and characteristics

So that / Such that

Emphasizing qualities and characteristics

So–that vs. Such–that

SO [ADVERB / ADJECTIVE] THAT	SUCH [ADJECTIVE + NOUN] THAT
So is paired with that to create emphasis. So, an adverb, modifies or intensifies an adjective or adverb in the cause-clause. And that follows in the effect-clause with a remarkable or extraordinary comment. (Note very cannot be used in place of so.)	Such is paired with that to create emphasis. Such, an adverb, modifies or intensifies an [adjective + noun phrase] in the cause-clause. And that introduces the effect-clause with a remarkable or extraordinary comment. Remember to use an article before count nouns.
CAUSE The meteor storm was so beautiful	EFFECT that we watched it all night.	CAUSE It was such a beautiful meteor storm	EFFECT that we watched it all night.
The meteor storm passed so quickly	that it went by in one week.	It was such a quick meteor storm	that it passed by in one week.

SO [ADVERB / ADJECTIVE] THAT

SUCH [ADJECTIVE + NOUN] THAT

So is paired with that to create emphasis. So, an adverb, modifies or intensifies an adjective or adverb in the cause-clause. And that follows in the effect-clause with a remarkable or extraordinary comment. (Note very cannot be used in place of so.)

Such is paired with that to create emphasis. Such, an adverb, modifies or intensifies an [adjective + noun phrase] in the cause-clause. And that introduces the effect-clause with a remarkable or extraordinary comment. Remember to use an article before count nouns.

CAUSE

The meteor storm was so beautiful

EFFECT

that we watched it all night.

CAUSE

It was such a beautiful meteor storm

EFFECT

that we watched it all night.

The meteor storm passed so quickly

that it went by in one week.

It was such a quick meteor storm

that it passed by in one week.

Sentence Structure

CAUSE CLAUSE				EFFECT CLAUSE
SUBJECT The meteor storm	VERB was	INTENSIFIER + ADJ / ADV so beautiful (adj.)		SUBORDINATOR that	DEPENDENT CLAUSE we watched it all night.
The meteor storm	appeared	so suddenly (adv.)		that	we were awed by it.
My friends and I	saw	so few falling stars (adj.)		that	we couldn't believe our back luck.
My friends and I	have	so many questions (adj.)		that	we should save them for later.
SUBJECT It	VERB was	INTENSIFIER + NOUN such a cloudy (adj.)	OBJECT NOUN night	SUBORDINATOR that	DEPENDENT CLAUSE we couldn't see anything.
The meteor storm	makes	such a large (adj.)	sweep across the sky	that	it is visible almost everywhere.
The city's street lamps	give off	such bright (adj.)	light	that	we can barely see the stars.

NASA Chat. "Up All Night to Watch the Perseids." 12 Aug 2011 NASA. Web. 15 Aug 2011

So – Emphasis vs. Effect

INTENSIFIER		COORDINATING CONJUNCTION
Homonyms are two words that may sound and be spelled alike, but they have different meanings. So is paired with that to create emphasis. So, an adverb, modifies or intensifies an adjective or adverb in the cause-clause. And that follows in the effect-clause with a remarkable or extraordinary comment.		So is also a coordinating conjunction that joins two independent clauses together. So introduces the result of the event mentioned in the first clause.
EVENT WITH EMPHASIS The meteor storm was so beautiful	REMARKABLE EFFECT that we watched it all night. (remarkable)	EVENT (NO EMPHASIS) We heard about the Perseid meteors,	LOGICAL EFFECT so we watched the sky for them.
	that we couldn't believe our eyes.	We became hungry,	so we went inside.
	that we called everyone out to see it.	I saw a falling star,	so I made a wish.
	that we shouted "ooow" and "awww".
	that we wished it would never end.
	*that we watched it. (not remarkable)

*Yellow highlighting indicates example of incorrect usage.
Also see Modifying an Adjective – so (degree adverbs)
Also see Cause / Effect and FANBOYS – so (conjunctions)

So Much vs. Such

SO MUCH / MANY	SUCH
Use so much or so many to place emphasis on the quantity of the object-noun in the cause-clause.	Use such to place emphasis on the quality of the modifier to the object-noun in the cause-clause.
EMPHASIS ON QUANTITY We will learn so much interesting information that it will take years to process it. (so much – adjective + noncount noun)	EMPHASIS ON QUALITY We will learn such interesting information that we will want to read more. (such – adjective + noncount noun)
We will see so many beautiful stars that it will be hard to count them. (so many – adjective + count noun)	We'll see such beautiful stars that we'll be amazed. (such – adjective + count noun)
	*We'll see so beautiful stars that we'll be amazed. (incorrect)

Also see Using Much & Many | Count and Non-count Nouns

Pop-Q "Such"

Common Mistakes

ERROR	FIX
*The night was so cold that we were cold. The result is unremarkable. It doesn't need emphasis.	The night was so cold that we had to wear two coats / we had to turn the heat on in the car / we had to put a camping blanket around us. When emphasizing a cause-effect relationship, the effect should be something unusual or remarkable.
*The night was very cold that we were shivering. shiver (v.) –to shake slightly because of the cold	The night was so cold that we wore two coats. When stating a cause-effect relationship, very is not used. Very is used to intensify the quality of an adjective, adverb. See Adv for Degree.
*It was so cold night that we wore extra coats.	It was such a cold night that we put a camping blanket around us. Use such before a singular count noun (a night).

Pop-Q "Meteors" | "Such that"

Grammar Notes

Diagrams

SO	SUCH
SUBJECT – PREDICATE	SUBJECT – PREDICATE
DETAIL – SO BEAUTIFUL THAT Click to a diagram to enlarge it.	DETAIL – SUCH A BEAUTIFUL…THAT

SUCH

SUBJECT – PREDICATE

DETAIL – SO BEAUTIFUL THAT

Click to a diagram to enlarge it.

DETAIL – SUCH A BEAUTIFUL…THAT

Clause; Subject / Predicate; Finite / Nonfinite; NP –noun phrase; N – noun; VP – verb phrase; V – verb; Comp – complement; Det – determiner; PP – prepositional phrase; P – preposition; Sub – Subordinator

Practice

Complete

Select the phrase that best completes the sentence.

Select your response from the menu.
Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	CHECK ANSWER
1.	There were a lot of clouds in the sky. I couldn't see much. There were in the sky that I couldn't see much.
2.	It was a cloudy night. I couldn't see much. It was that I couldn't see much.
3.	The meteor particles are small. They burn up before they reach earth. The particles are that they burn up before they reach earth. meteor (n.) – a piece of rock or metal that travels through space, and makes a bright line in the night sky when it falls down towards Earth particles (n.) – small pieces or bits
4.	The meteor storm is a big threat to satellites. They are being moved out of the way. The meteor storm is to satellites that they are being moved out of the way. meteor storm / shower (n.) – a period when a large number of meteors fall toward earth threat (n.) – something that can cause harm or damage satellite (n.) – a machine sent into space and goes around the Earth, moon or some other planet
5.	The meteor particles move fast. They become bullets in space. The meteor particles move that they become bullets in space. bullets (n.) - extremely high speed objects (as in ammunition in a gun)
6.	This meteor shower is a rare occurrence. It only comes every 33 years. This meteor shower is that it only comes every 33 years. occurrence (n.) – happening; event
7.	The comet has a large wake. It passes through the earth's upper atmosphere. The comet has that it passes through the earth's upper atmosphere. atmosphere (n.) – the mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth. wake (n.) – the particles that are spread out behind the comet
8.	The shooting stars appear frequently. You can see two or three a minute. The shooting stars appear that you can see two or three a minute. shooting stars or falling stars (n.) – pieces of rock or metal from space and that burn brightly as they fall toward Earth
9.	Scientists consider this a unique opportunity. They are flying in aircraft to study it. Scientists consider this that they are flying in aircraft to study it. unique (adj.) – being the only one of its kind; special aircraft (n.) – any man-made machine that can fly; singular and plural form is aircraft
10.	These observations will reveal important information. Scientists will be studying results for years. These observations will reveal that scientists will be studying results for years. observation (n.) – the process of watching something or someone carefully for a period of time reveal (v.) – to make known something that was a secret or unknown; uncover, discover

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