Grammar · Adverbs & Word Order
So & Such
Two small words that make things stronger. Learn when to use each one with the film Sister Act.
Grammar › Adverbs & Word Order › So & Such
The rule in one sentenceUse so before an adjective on its own — use such before a noun, often with a or an: so loud, but such a loud voice.
About the film
Sister Act is a comedy from 1992 about Deloris, a singer in Reno who sees a crime. The police hide her in a convent in San Francisco, where she must dress and live like a nun. The convent is so quiet, and the Mother Superior is such a strict woman, that Deloris feels lost at first.
What does it do?
So and such both make a word stronger, a bit like very. The difference is the word that comes next.
Use so before an adjective or an adverb on its own: so loud, so quickly. Use such before a noun. The noun can have an adjective too: such a voice, such a loud voice.
Look at the first two tiles. They mean the same thing. In the first one, a noun (voice) comes after such. In the second one, only an adjective (strong) comes after so.
The choir sings so badly. It is such a bad choir!
Badly has no noun after it, so we use so. Choir is a noun, so we use such a.
Visual guide
Teacher Teddy’s illustrated guide to this rule is being drawn — the full swipe-through infographic will appear here soon.
How to make it
so — before an adjective
The convent is so quiet.
Deloris isn’t so happy in her new home.
Not so + adjective means “not very”.Why is the Mother Superior so strict?
So stays before the adjective in questions too.such — before a noun
Deloris has such a strong voice.
I have never heard such a bad choir!
Here, never … such a means “the worst I know”.Have you ever seen such a funny film?
Such a works in questions too.When to use each one
so — adjective or adverb alone
such — a noun comes next
Words that help: adjective or noun?
Look at the word right after the gap. It tells you which one to use.
so → no noun comes next
such → a noun comes next
Common mistakes
❌ Deloris is such talented.
✅ Deloris is so talented.
Talented is an adjective with no noun after it, so use so.
❌ It is so a quiet place.
✅ It is such a quiet place.
A noun (place) comes next, so use such a.
❌ She is a such good singer.
✅ She is such a good singer.
Put such before a, not after it.
❌ There are such many nuns here.
✅ There are so many nuns here.
Use so with many and much.
One more thing
This part is a little harder. You can come back to it later.
Add that to show the result. Both words can come before that + what happened next.
✅ The music was so loud that I couldn’t hear you.
✅ It was such a good film that I watched it twice.
Practice: choose so or such
Eight questions. Choose one word. You get the answer, and why.
1. Deloris has ___ a strong voice.
A noun (voice) comes after a → such.
2. The convent is ___ quiet at night.
Quiet is an adjective on its own → so.
3. The Mother Superior is ___ a strict woman.
A noun (woman) comes next → such.
4. The choir sings ___ badly!
Badly is an adverb → so.
5. They are ___ kind people.
A plural noun (people) comes next → such.
6. There are ___ many nuns here.
Use so with many and much.
7. It was ___ a funny film that I watched it twice.
Such a + adjective + noun (film).
8. The film is ___ funny that I laughed all night.
Funny is an adjective with no noun → so.
Your turn
Choose one ending. Then listen to your sentence.
Every sentence here is correct. Pick the one that is true for you. Say it out loud too!
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