So in English

In English, so is one of the most frequent and versatile words. Adverb of degree, conjunction of consequence, discourse marker, or tool to avoid repetition: its meaning shifts every time depending on what surrounds it. This lesson covers all its uses, from the simplest to the most subtle.

1. So to express degree: “very”, “really”

So modifies the degree of an adjective or adverb. This is its most common use.

English	Meaning
He is so nice.	He is really nice.
Why is Becky so cheerful?	Why is Becky so cheerful?
She is so beautiful.	She is very beautiful.
The movie was so boring.	The movie was really boring.
She explained the concept so clearly.	She explained it in such a clear way.
I’m sorry I’m arriving so late.	I apologise for arriving this late.
This park is so peaceful.	This park is really peaceful.
It’s so rainy today.	It’s really rainy today.

The structure so + adjective/adverb + that expresses a direct consequence:

English	Meaning
She’s so curious that she always asks questions.	Her curiosity leads her to always ask questions.
It was so cold that we couldn’t go outside.	The cold prevented us from going out.
She was so thirsty that she couldn’t even speak.	Her thirst stopped her from speaking.
He ran so fast that nobody could catch him.	His speed made him impossible to catch.
The bag was so heavy that she had to put it down.	The weight of the bag forced her to put it down.

2. So much, so many, so little, so few

So combines with quantifiers to express a large or small quantity.

Expression	Use	Example
so much	Uncountable noun	There is so much chocolate.
so many	Countable noun	There were so many books.
so little	Small quantity (uncountable)	You’ve drunk so little.
so few	Small number (countable)	There are so few stars tonight.
so much more	Before a comparative	My job is so much more stressful than yours.
so much better	Before a comparative	I feel so much better today.

Before a comparative, always say so much better — never so better.

3. So as a conjunction of consequence: “so”, “therefore”

So links two clauses: the first is the cause, the second is the consequence.

English	Meaning
She didn’t study for the exam, so she was totally unprepared.	Not studying led to her being unprepared.
He didn’t finish his homework, so he got a bad grade.	The unfinished homework caused a bad grade.
I was sick yesterday, so I couldn’t work.	Being sick prevented me from working.
The fruits were on sale, so I bought three kilos of apples.	The sale prompted the purchase.
It was raining, so we stayed inside.	The rain caused us to stay in.
She missed the bus, so she took a taxi.	Missing the bus led to taking a taxi.

4. So that and so as to to express purpose

So that does not express a consequence — it expresses an intention or purpose.

English	Meaning	Structure
He trained every day so that he could run the marathon.	His aim was to run the marathon.	so that + subject + modal
She woke up early so that she wouldn’t miss the train.	Her goal was not to miss the train.	so that + subject + modal
He whispered so that nobody would hear him.	He wanted nobody to hear him.	so that + subject + modal
She saved money so that she could travel next year.	Travelling next year was her goal.	so that + subject + modal
I wake up early so as to start my day productively.	A productive start is the purpose.	so as to + infinitive
She left early so as to avoid the traffic.	Avoiding traffic was her intention.	so as to + infinitive

The difference between so and so that at a glance:

Structure	Meaning	Example
clause, so clause	Consequence (therefore)	She was late, so she missed the bus.
clause so that clause	Purpose (in order that)	She left early so that she wouldn’t miss the bus.

5. So to avoid repetition

In a more formal register, so replaces an adjective or clause already mentioned, to lighten the sentence.

English	Meaning
The climate was unstable in that area and it remains so.	It is still unstable.
He’s very motivated. He’s been so since the start.	He has been motivated from the beginning.
My old school was noisy; my new school less so.	My new school is less noisy.
The movie was exciting, and the sequel more so.	The sequel was even more exciting.

With certain verbs (think, believe, hear, say, read, expect, suppose), so replaces a whole clause in a short answer:

Exchange	Meaning
A: Is Laura moving this year? B: I believe so.	I believe she is.
A: Tom won the race. B: So I read.	That’s what I read.
A: Will it be tough? B: I think so.	I think it will be.
A: Is she coming tonight? B: I expect so.	I expect she is.
A: They said it was free. B: So I heard.	That’s what I heard.

6. So am I, so do I: “me too”

So followed by an auxiliary and a subject expresses agreement. The structure is always: so + auxiliary + subject.

Auxiliary used	Example	Meaning
be	Karen is an excellent cook and so is her brother.	Her brother is too.
do / does	She loves coffee and so does her brother.	Her brother loves it too.
did	I went to the party and so did Tom.	Tom went too.
have	I’ve been to Japan and so has she.	She has been too.
can	I can swim and so can my sister.	My sister can too.
will	I will come and so will Marc.	Marc will come too.

In an exclamatory spoken response, so confirms something with surprise — without inverting subject and auxiliary:

Exchange	Meaning
A: It’s almost midnight. B: Oh, so it is!	You’re right, it is!
A: I can solve this in five minutes. B: So you can!	Apparently you can!
A: It’s snowing outside! B: So it is!	So it is, yes!

7. So as a discourse marker

So appears very often at the start of a sentence in spoken English. It is used to keep the conversation flowing, to summarise, to introduce, or to change topic. This use is universal in spoken English.

English	Function
So, to sum up, the pros outweigh the cons.	Summarising
So, what will you do instead?	Changing topic
So, where were we?	Picking up a thread
So, here’s the thing…	Introducing an explanation
So, shall we get started?	Launching an action
So, as I was saying…	Resuming after an interruption
So, that’s it for today.	Closing a meeting or lesson

8. So vs such: the rule at a glance

This is the most frequent confusion. The rule is simple: if a noun follows, use such. If the adjective stands alone, use so.

Situation	Correct word	Correct example	Error to avoid
Adjective alone (no noun)	so	He is so kind.	He is such kind. ✗
Adjective + noun	such	He is such a kind man.	He is so a kind man. ✗
Adjective alone	so	The story was so interesting.	The story was such interesting. ✗
Adjective + noun	such	He told us such an interesting story.	He told us so an interesting story. ✗
Adjective alone	so	She is so beautiful.	She is such beautiful. ✗
Adjective + noun	such	She has such a beautiful face.	She has so a beautiful face. ✗

9. Other common uses of so

So far — until now:

So far, everything is going well with the new project.

So far, I’ve read three books this month.

How’s it going so far?

Is that so? — surprise or scepticism:

A: I saw your ex at the supermarket. B: Oh, is that so?

A: They say he’s the best. B: Is that so?

So to indicate a size or manner (spoken, often with a gesture):

The fish I caught was about so big!

Press the button — so.

So for emphasis (informal, common among younger speakers):

That joke is so your style of humor.

That is so the last thing I needed!

She is so not ready for this.

10. So: full grammatical breakdown

Category	Meaning	Example
Adverb of degree	Very / Really	She is so tired.
Adverb of manner	In this way / Thus	Do it so.
Coordinating conjunction	Therefore / So	It rained, so we stayed in.
Substitute adverb	The same / That	I think so.
Discourse marker	So / Well / Right	So, shall we begin?
Adjective (formal)	In proper order	Everything was finally so.

11. Idiomatic expressions with so

Expression	Meaning	Example
so far	Until now	So far, everything is going well.
so what!	Who cares!	You got a better grade. So what!
so be it	Let it be so	If you decide to leave, so be it.
so long as	As long as / Provided that	You can go so long as you’re back by midnight.
if so	If that is the case	Do you have allergies? If so, tell the chef.
I think so	I think that’s the case	Will he come? I think so.
I hope so	I hope that’s the case	Will it be sunny tomorrow? I hope so.
I’m afraid so	Unfortunately yes	Did we miss the train? I’m afraid so.
I suppose so	I suppose that’s the case	Is it too late? I suppose so.
is that so?	Really? Is that true?	I saw your ex. Oh, is that so?
so to speak	As it were / In a manner of speaking	He’s the brain of the operation, so to speak.
even so	Nevertheless / Even then	It was risky. Even so, they tried.
and so on / and so forth	And so on / Etc.	I bought apples, oranges, bananas, and so on.
not so long ago	Not very long ago	Not so long ago, he was a student here.
so much for that!	That’s the end of that!	The picnic is canceled. So much for that!
all the more so	Even more so	The task is hard, all the more so without tools.
every so often	From time to time	Every so often, I visit the countryside.
how so?	How do you mean?	It’s complicated. How so?
so as to	In order to	She left early so as to avoid the traffic.
quite so	Absolutely / Quite right	It was a mistake. Quite so.
or so	Approximately	I’ll be there in an hour or so.
so it seems	Apparently / It would seem so	She’s moving abroad. So it seems.
not so much	Not really / Not particularly	Do you like jazz? Not so much.
so much so that	To such an extent that	He was tired, so much so that he fell asleep standing.
only so much	Only to a certain degree	There is only so much I can do.

12. Summary: all uses of so in one table

Use	Meaning	Structure	Example
Degree	Very / Really	so + adj/adverb	She is so tired.
Consequence (so…that)	So… that	so + adj + that	It was so cold that we stayed in.
Quantity	So much / so many	so much / so many	There are so many options.
Consequence (conjunction)	Therefore / So	clause, so clause	It rained, so we stayed in.
Purpose	In order that / So that	so that + subject + modal	She left early so that she’d be on time.
Substitution	So / The same	verb + so	I think so. / I believe so.
Agreement	Me too / So does he	so + aux + subject	So do I. / So does he.
Confirmation	Indeed / You’re right	so + subject + aux	Oh, so it is!
Discourse marker	So / Well / Right	so, + clause	So, shall we begin?
Emphasis (informal)	Really / Totally	so + not/adj	That is so not fair.

Practice exercise

Test your knowledge of the different uses of so in English: