Can I use 'so' in the following examples?

Question

Hi,1.How is the climate on this island?It is usually so warm, but sometimes it is cold.2.Are the strawberries here usually sour?No, they are so sweet and juicy.3.Are you hungry?Yes, I am so hungry and thirsty.4. Are lemons sweet or sour?They are so sour although they are juicy.5.Is the water in the pond clean?No, it is so dirty.Thank you.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

'So' is so often used like this that some people may argue that it is now standard. I disagree, but maybe in another 20 years no-one will disagree.

More standard in your examples would be 'very'.

'So' implies a consequence,
eg
Q - Are you hungry?
A - Yes, I am so hungry that I have to eat right now.

Clive

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymous1.How is the climate on this island?
It is usually so warm, but sometimes it is cold.

2.Are the strawberries here usually sour?
No, they are so sweet and juicy.

3.Are you hungry?
Yes, I am so hungry and thirsty.

4. Are lemons sweet or sour?
They are so sour although they are juicy.

5.Is the water in the pond clean?
No, it is so dirty.

No. Remove 'so' from all of them, as shown.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Hi,
It is fine to use 'so' as in 'You have been so kind.' Why isn't 'so' fine in those examples above?
Thanks.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

'You have been so kind.''

This is a "set phrase" - something that commonly used as a compliment.

In most uses of so + adjective, a that- clause is expected to follow. This clause shows the consequences of the extreme condition:

I was so hungry that I ate the whole cake.

I am so hungry that I could eat an elephant.

It was so cold that the lake froze over.
It was so hot that we fried eggs on the pavement.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousIt is fine to use 'so' as in 'You have been so kind.' Why isn't 'so' fine in those examples above?

My dictionary has two similar definitions of the adverb of degree "so" which occurs before adjectives. The similarity sometimes causes problems for those who are learning English.

A. To the amount or degree expressed or understood; in such quantity or to such an extent:
He was so weary that he fell. [so + adjective + that ...]

B. To a great extent; to such an evident degree:
But the idea is so obvious. [so + adjective]
________________________

Here's one way to look at it.

Usage A is more declarative. It explains the degree to which an adjective applies by adding a that-clause. It is emotionally neutral.

Usage B is more exclamatory. It offers no explanation of the degree, so we take it to mean 'very much'. It shows some emotion on the part of the speaker.
_________________________

Context is important. The context may suggest something declarative ( Declarative context; Context A ) or it may suggest something exclamatory ( Exclamatory context; Context B ).
The usage must match the context. Usage B in a declarative context (Context A), or usage A in an exclamatory context (Context B), will sound wrong to a native speaker.
_________

If I notice how warm a room is when I enter it, I might say, It's so warm in this room! (Usage B) There is something exclamatory here, something surprising. It's warmer than I expected. (Context B).

But when I ask someone about the climate on an island (Context A), I don't expect anyone to act surprised and say, It's so warm on this island! (Usage B) I'm not asking anybody to tell me something that suggests how terribly he is suffering from the heat on this island. Rather, I expect an answer that is neutral in tone and informative.

If so occurs in an emotionally neutral statement of this kind (Context A), I expect an explanation of the consequences in a that-clause (Usage A). It is usually so warm that you can wear shorts all day long, but sometimes it is cold.

But an emotionally neutral statement like this need not contain so at all: It is usually warm, but sometimes it is cold. (Context A, but neither usage A nor usage B because there is no so.) And this is the way it is usually done.

All of the examples given by the OP show Context A because they are all neutral questions and answers. As we saw above, there are only two choices regarding so when we have Context A. You can use so with a that-clause, or you can leave out so. All of us native speakers who have replied to the OP have suggested omitting so as it is easier than trying to construct a that-clause to go with the OP's sentences.
____________

In Context B, you can use so without that. Your sentence You have been so kind is an example of this. When you express your appreciation for something, you speak with emotion. You want to communicate that your heart is full of appreciative feelings. There are many formulas that have Usage B in Context B.

Thank you so much. I am so thankful. Paul was so appreciative. Mary is so kind.

But appreciation is not the only thing you can exclaim about in a non-neutral way:

They were so mean to me!
Jake can be so stupid sometimes!
Louise acts so superior; she's such a know-it-all.
Karen was so heart-broken when her grandmother died.
I've been studying irregular verbs all day. I'm so confused!

Note that so can be paraphrased as really or truly in these last examples.

CJ

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Generally speaking, I find it best for students to master 'very' before starting on 'so'.

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Hi,
Thank you all so much for your helpful answers. Could you please check if so or very are fine in the following example?

Q:Why are you so/very upset?
A:I'm so/very upset because I failed the exam.

Could you tell me why if so or very isn't OK here?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Could you please check if so or very are fine in the following example?

Q:Why are you so/very upset?
A:I'm so/very upset because I failed the exam.

Could you tell me why if so or very isn't OK here?

Both are possible. Often, no difference is intended. But here are a couple of comments..

Why are you very upset? Seeks the reason.

Why are you so upset? Seeks the reason. But also suggests that I expected you to be upset, but not this much.

I feel the 'so' version is more common.

Clive

Can I use 'so' in the following examples?

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