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so (degree adverb): so tired, so fast

Meaning​

So means ‘that much’ or ‘to that extent’. It is used when we are talking about a high degree of some quality – in situations where very is also a suitable word.

  • I’m sorry you’re so tired. (= I know you’re very tired, and I’m sorry.)
  • It was so cold that we couldn’t go out. (= It was very cold weather, and because of that we couldn’t go out.)
  • I wish she didn’t drive so fast.

so and very​

Very (see here) is used when we are giving new information. So is mainly used to refer to information which has already been given, which is already known, or which is obvious. Compare:

  • You’re very late. (giving new information)
    I’m sorry I’m so late. (referring to information which is already known)
  • It was very warm in Scotland. (giving new information)
    I didn’t think it would be so warm. (referring to information which is already known)

Emphatic use​

In an informal style, so can also be used like very to give new information, when the speaker wishes to emphasise what is said. This structure is rather like an exclamation (see here).

  • He’s so bad-tempered! (= How bad-tempered he is!)
  • You’re so right!

so … that​

We use so, not very, before that-clauses.

  • It was so cold that we stopped playing. (not It was very cold that we stopped playing.)
  • He spoke so fast that nobody could understand. (not He spoke very fast that …)

Before adjectives and adverbs​

We can use so before an adjective alone (without a noun) or an adverb.

  • The milk was so good that we couldn’t stop drinking it.
  • Why are you driving so fast?

So is not used with adjective + noun.

  • I didn’t expect such terrible weather. (not … so terrible weather.)
  • I enjoyed my stay in your country, which is so beautiful. (not I enjoyed my stay in your so beautiful country.)
note

For such, (see here).

so much, etc​

We can use so much and so many (see here), so few and so little with or without nouns.

  • I’ve bought so many new books; I don’t know when I’ll read them.
  • There were so few interesting people there that we decided to go home.
  • I’ve read so much and learnt so little.

so and so much​

We use so, not so much, before adjectives without nouns (see here) above). Compare:

  • She had so much heavy luggage that she couldn’t carry it.
    Her luggage was so heavy that she couldn’t carry it. (not Her luggage was so much heavy …)
  • I’ve never seen so much beautiful jewellery.
    The jewellery is so beautiful! (not … so much beautiful!)

But we use so much, not so, before comparatives.

  • I’m glad you’re feeling so much better. (not … so better.)

so … as to …​

There is a structure with so followed by adjective + as to + infinitive. This is formal and not very common.

  • Would you be so kind as to tell me the time? (= … kind enough to …) (not Would you be so kind and …) or Would you be so kind to …

so … a …​

There is another rather formal structure with so + adjective + a/an + noun (see here).

  • I had never before met so gentle a person. (= … such a gentle person.)