Adverbs of degree, so and such
A bit, quite, really, extremely, absolutely; so nice, but such nice weather and such a nice day.
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Adverbs of degree make an adjective stronger or weaker: a bit cold, quite cold, very cold, extremely cold. They go before the adjective. So and such also make a word stronger, often with surprise or emotion: It was so cold. It was such a cold day. The difference between them is grammar: so goes with an adjective alone, such goes with a noun.
From weaker to stronger
Word | Strength | Example |
|---|---|---|
a bit, a little | weak | It's a bit cold today. |
fairly, quite | medium | The hotel was quite nice. |
pretty | medium, informal | The test was pretty easy. |
very, really | strong | The film was really good. |
extremely | very strong | The roads are extremely dangerous. |
A bit and a little often go with words for something we don't like: a bit expensive, a little tired. Before a positive word, quite or fairly is more usual: quite good, not a bit good.
Quite in British English
With most adjectives, quite means "more than a little, but not very": The film was quite good. (Good, but not great.) With adjectives that already mean "completely", like right, sure, impossible, amazing, it means completely: You're quite right. I'm quite sure.
Before a + adjective + noun, quite usually comes first: It's quite a long way. She's quite a good singer.
Very or absolutely
Some adjectives already mean "very": freezing (= very cold), boiling, huge, tiny, exhausted, delicious, terrible, amazing, brilliant. With them we usually don't use very. Use absolutely or really.
- It's absolutely freezing outside.
- I'm really exhausted.
- Incorrect: Take a warm coat. It's very freezing outside.
- Correct: Take a warm coat. It's absolutely freezing outside. / It's very cold outside.Freezing already means very cold, so very doesn't fit. Use absolutely or really, or very cold.
Really works with both kinds: really cold, really freezing.
So + adjective, such + noun
So goes before an adjective or an adverb with no noun after it. Such goes before a noun, with or without an adjective. With a singular countable noun, it is such a or such an.
so | such |
|---|---|
The weather is so nice. | It's such nice weather. |
The people were so friendly. | They were such friendly people. |
The day was so hot. | It was such a hot day. |
He drives so fast. | He's such a fast driver. |
- Incorrect: We had so nice weather on holiday.
- Correct: We had such nice weather on holiday. / The weather was so nice.Weather is a noun, so use such. So goes with an adjective alone.
- Incorrect: She's so a kind person.
- Correct: She's such a kind person.Before a + adjective + noun, use such a.
- Incorrect: It was such hot.
- Correct: It was so hot.With an adjective alone, use so.
So much, so many
Before a noun, use so much (uncountable) and so many (plural) for a large amount.
- There were so many people at the concert.
- I've got so much work this week.
So ... that, such ... that
Add that + a result: what happened because of it. In speech, that is often left out.
- It was so cold that we stayed at home.
- It was such a good film (that) I watched it twice.