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MichalS Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
So/such little time
Hi,
I intuitively know that there should be so (instead of such) in the following examples.
1) I don't have so much money.
2) I've never seen so many people in my life.
3) I have so little time.
4) I have so few friends.
My question is: is it grammatical to have such (instead of so) in these contexts (before determiners)? Despite the fact that the versions with such sound off, are they in use at all?
(???) 1) I don't have such much money.
(???) 2) I've never seen such many people in my life.
(???) 3) I have such little time.
(???) 4) I have such few friends.
A student of mine asked me why there should be so, as she had learned earlier that we use such when it modifies a noun phrase. I told her that there should be so before determiners (despite the following nouns), and she asked whether the 'such' versions are correct as well? I don't know the answer.
Also, are there more such determiners that require the use of so in similar contexts? Personally, I can't think of any, can you?
I'd be grateful for any help,
Michal
I intuitively know that there should be so (instead of such) in the following examples.
1) I don't have so much money.
2) I've never seen so many people in my life.
3) I have so little time.
4) I have so few friends.
My question is: is it grammatical to have such (instead of so) in these contexts (before determiners)? Despite the fact that the versions with such sound off, are they in use at all?
(???) 1) I don't have such much money.
(???) 2) I've never seen such many people in my life.
(???) 3) I have such little time.
(???) 4) I have such few friends.
A student of mine asked me why there should be so, as she had learned earlier that we use such when it modifies a noun phrase. I told her that there should be so before determiners (despite the following nouns), and she asked whether the 'such' versions are correct as well? I don't know the answer.
Also, are there more such determiners that require the use of so in similar contexts? Personally, I can't think of any, can you?
I'd be grateful for any help,
Michal
Top answer
) 1) I don't have such much money. ) 2) I've never seen such many people in my life. ) 3) I have such little time.
- ) 1) I don't have such much money.
- ) 2) I've never seen such many people in my life.
- ) 3) I have such little time.
- Others will be better able to pin this down.
- None of your four alternatives are acceptable.
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7 Answers
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MichalS(???) 1) I don't have such much money.
(???) 2) I've never seen such many people in my life.
(???) 3) I have such little time.
(???) 4) I have such few friends.Others will be better able to pin this down.
None of your four alternatives are acceptable.It has to do with the nature of the quantity.
You can say "I
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From an on-line source:
Structures using 'such' and 'so' are similar in meaning, but different in construction. The main difference between the two structures is that 'such' takes a noun phrase, whereas 'so' takes an adjective.
'Such ... that'
'Such ... that' takes a noun or modified noun in a noun phrase. 'That' can be used following the noun phrase but is not
Structures using 'such' and 'so' are similar in meaning, but different in construction. The main difference between the two structures is that 'such' takes a noun phrase, whereas 'so' takes an adjective.
'Such ... that'
'Such ... that' takes a noun or modified noun in a noun phrase. 'That' can be used following the noun phrase but is not
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Thank you Avangi and MM for your time!
AvangiYou can say "I have such little hands."OK, but here we have the sturcture: Such+Adjective+Noun but in my example "*I have such little time", 'little' is a determiner, I guess. Isn't it?
"I have never seen such fat people."
Mister MicawberStructures using 'such' and 'so' are simil
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Hi MichalS!
I faced the same problem, so after some research I found the following rule:
"So" can be combined with "many" or "few" + a plural noun to show extremes in amount. This form is often used in exclamations.
Examples:
I faced the same problem, so after some research I found the following rule:
"So" can be combined with "many" or "few" + a plural noun to show extremes in amount. This form is often used in exclamations.
Examples:
- I never knew you had so many brothers!
- She has so few friends! It's really quite sad.
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And of course the same rule applies to the situation you referred to "so much money" and "so little time".
"So" can be also combined with "much" or "little" + an uncountable noun => to show extremes in amount!
"So" can be also combined with "much" or "little" + an uncountable noun => to show extremes in amount!
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