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Tenacious Learner Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Question about 'so'. Unit 4

Hi Teachers,

Will you consider 'very' an appropriate synonym for 'so' in this sentence? If not which one please?

His arms and legs were so cold that he could hardly feel them.

Thanks in advance
  

Top answer

No, you cannot do that. 'Very cold' = 'so cold that he could hardly feel them'. That is, 'very' is synonymous with the whole comparative structure, not just with 'so'.

— Mister Micawber

  • No, you cannot do that.
  • 'Very cold' = 'so cold that he could hardly feel them'.
  • That is, 'very' is synonymous with the whole comparative structure, not just with 'so'.
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17 Answers
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No, you cannot do that. 'Very cold' = 'so cold that he could hardly feel them'. That is, 'very' is synonymous with the whole comparative structure, not just with 'so'.
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Hi Mister Micawber,

Thank you for your reply. I would have never thought that by myself.

Best,

TS
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Hi,

No, definitely not.

Use 'so' because you are stating a consequence.


eg The car was very expensive. Maybe I bought it, maybe I didn't.

eg The car was so expensive that I
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Hi Clive,

Thank you for your reply.

eg The car was so expensive that I didn't buy it.

'So' has to with something that is impossible to be done?

eg This box is very heavy. But I can lift it.

eg This box is so h
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Thinking SpainMy dictionary gives as synonyms of 'so', 'extremely' and 'very much' (used for emphasis): she looked so pretty. By the way my dictionary is New Oxford American Dictionary.
I doubt that your dictionary gives this as the only definition of "so."

You can't just pick one definition out of several then try to force fit the word into any conte
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Hi Clive,

This is what I meant:

eg The car was so expensive that I didn't buy it.

'So' has to do with something that is impossible to be done?

eg
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Hi Malrey,

Original Sentence:

His arms and legs were so cold that he could hardly feel them.

I've read all of them, and the only two that I think can fit in my original sentence are:

a: to a degree that is suggested or stated

b: to a great degree : very or extremely

Why do I think that? Because thay are the
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Hi,

'So' has to do with something that is impossible to be done?

'So' does not necessarily mean something is impossible. It just means that there is a consequence.

eg This box is so heavy that I can't lift it.

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Hi Clive,

Thank you for your reply. I guess I got it.

This is one meaning of 'so'?

a) Today is so cold.

A synonym for 'so' in this case can be 'very' or 'extremely'. There is no consequence.

b) Today is so
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Hi Clive,

So my original sentence, 'His arms and legs were so cold that he could hardly fell them', is a complex sentence, isn't it?

No, it isn't. It is a compound sentence because each part is capable ob being an independente sentence.

I am am right, aren't I?

TS
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