So and Such

Teaching aim: By the end of this class, students will make clear the differences between so and such, and they will be able to use the two words properly.

Teaching important point: To learn to use the two words properly.

Teaching difficult point: How to use the two words properly, especially the word such.

Teaching method:Task-based language teaching

Teaching procedures:

Step 1 Lead-in

Today we’re going to talk about two very small but very important and common English words, so and such.

Step 2 Presentation

These two words can be used in a few different ways in English sentences. But in this lesson we’re going to focus on how they can add emphasis to your sentences. So how can we make the meaning stronger.

It’s such a nice day!             

Yes, it’s so beautiful outside.      

Often these words have a meaning that is similar to words like Very and Really in English sentences. So they help you to make the meaning of your sentence stronger.

The car is very expensive.

The car is so expensive.

He is a very clever boy.

He is such a clever boy.

He is so clever a boy.

Step 3 Presentation

So how do you use these words effectively in English sentences?

Conclusion: The word So is used with an adjective or an adverb.

It is so windy today.

Your brother can run so fast.

Conclusion: The word such can be used with a noun or a noun phrase. For example,

It is such a windy day today.

Your brother is such a fast runner.

Conclusion: So we’re using such with a noun. But be careful because a noun phrase can actually include adjectives and adverbs in it. So you need to look carefully for the noun. If you simply look at the word that is following So or Such. You might make a mistake. So be careful.

I have never heard such interesting stories.

He has made such rapid progress recently.

Step 4 Practice

Now I’m going to give you some examples to practice with. The next sentence that I read out, I’m going to use the word So. And I want you to think about how you can change that word slightly, the sentence slightly, so that you can use the word Such instead.

Ready?

He is so generous.

How can you change it to use Such?

You need a noun.

He is such a generous man.

Another one.

New York is so big.

How can you say the sentence using So? You need to change it.

New York is such a big city.

I want you to use what you have practiced today.

Step 5 Presentation

There is one more thing that I want to explain to you about So. Now the word So but not Such can be used in front of these words.

So much

So many

So little

So few

Now all of these words are quantifiers. And they’re used with nouns in English sentences. So they help to tell us how much of a noun there is, the amount of the quantity of that noun. But I’ve just taught you that you need to use Such with nouns. So this is a bit of an exception that you need to keep in mind.

For example,

There are so many people here today!

I don’t know where he has got so much money.

He has so little time for reading.

I’m surprised that so few students turned up today.

Step 6 Summary and practice

Now, let’s draw a conclusion of what we have learned in this class. Please look at this form.

Have you made clear the differences between So and Such? Let’s do some practice. Fill in the blanks with so and such.

It was interesting that such little animas eat so much grass.

I don’t believe that such little children can finish so much work in such short time.

Now, let’s check the answers.