So+verb+...; verb+...+so

Question

That is how this building was built. / That is how those men came here.
So was this building built. / So those men came here.
This building was built so. / Those men came here so.

I know that the first version is right, but are the second and third version are also similarly right and similarly often said?
And is "thus" also said in this case? For e.g.: Thus was this building built. This building was built thus. And if it is, then similarly often?

GPY · Accepted Answer

That is how this building was built. / That is how those men came here. -- OK.

So was this building built. / So those men came here. -- Hard to understand, or appears to mean something different from what you intend.

This building was built so. / Those men came here so. -- Fairly uncommon literary-sounding style. Not recommended for everyday English

Thus was this building built. -- Unusual style.

This building was built thus. -- Possible. Again, more of a written style than conversational.

CalifJim · Answer

KaaJeeare the second and third version are also similarly right and similarly often said?

No, no, no! Forget those!

The building was built [like this / like that / in this way / in that way].
[In this way / In that way] the building was built.

CJ

KaaJee · Answer

Thanks very much!

KaaJee · Answer

Thank you, and I see it was a wrong idea, indeed. And I almost really forgot that “in this way” is an equally good choice in this case, indeed.
By the way, it’s not really clear than where “in this way” and where “so” is correct. Is there verbs which requires “so” instead of “in this way”?
For e.g.: I think so. It is so. I will do so. – I think these are correct, and “in this way” is not so good with these verbs. There are also other verbs like these? Or it may be that “in this way” is also correct with these verbs but the meaning is a bit different, I don’t know.
For e.g.: Is there any difference between “I did so” and “I did in this way”/“That is how I did”?

CalifJim · Answer

KaaJeeI think so. It is so. I will do so. – I think these are correct, and “in this way” is not so good with these verbs.

Right. There are some idioms in which 'so' is much preferred. Here are the most usual meanings. (There are others.)

I think so ~ I believe that the answer is 'yes'. Is Jack leaving on Wednesday? I think so.
It is so: Used to contradict a negation. That radio is not working! It is so! Is not! Is so! Is not! Is so!
to do so ~ to do what has been described, suggested, asked, ordered, ....
Take this message to Julia. I will do [so / that / it] immediately.

KaaJeeIs there any difference between “I did so” and “I did in this way”/“That is how I did”?

As explained above.
I did so ~ I did [what you asked me to do / what you suggested that I do / ...]
Or simply I did so = I did that.

Here 'so' does not mean 'in [this / that] way' but simply 'that'. It's more like a pronoun than like an adverb here.

I did in this way and That is how I did are not English.

I did it (in) this way and That is how I did it are English.

I did it so is extremely rare, but grammatical. It might be used while physically demonstrating how something was done.

CJ

KaaJee · Answer

Now it's completely clear, thank you!

KaaJee · Answer

Hello,CalifJim!
Well, another question, sorry.

There is a further problem: whether “in this way” or “thus” is used, I don’t know how to make it clear where is the grammatical stress in the sentence. As you’ve shown, both “in this way the building was built” and “the building was built in this way” means “that is how the building was built,” so it isn’t depends on the word order.
And sorry if I misunderstand you, just like GPY. My sentences with “so” were absolutely wrong, and even my sentence with “thus” wasn’t really good, but does it mean that “thus” can’t be used like “in this way.” To see what I’m talking about, now I will use “thus” and “in this way” similarly.

Just see: In the following, I wouldn’t like for “thus” and “in this way” to be emphasised. They are intended to be like “therefore” – as far as I use “therefore” right.
The road was closed, thus we had to go on the other road. (I.e. it’s not an explanation why we went on the other road but it’s a simple mention of what happened then, though with some meaning of “consequently.”)
Or: Thus I think that the…
I had to choose between two buckets. One of them was holed, in this way it was easy to choose.
So it may be that they should be stressless but how to make it known, maybe by putting a coma after “thus”/“in this way”?

Now the type of the sentence is a bit different, but the function of “thus” is similar; it’s stressless and intended to mean “consequently.”:
I forgot that he can’t keep a secret. I brought all those things to his knowledge, and thus to everybody’s knowledge.
I couldn’t go home, and thus, nor can I bring that book.

As opposed to the above, in the following, “thus” and “in this way” should be emphasised, should be like “that is how,” i.e., “not in any other way but…”
A: -Let’s call the dog Max. B: -Alright, let’s call it thus.
[After telling my opinion:] I think thus. (I.e. “That is how I think.)
The account continues thus, “[…]”
Then he talked in this way, “[…]”
He put it into the bag, he brought it in this way.
Or with changed word order:
Thus the text runs about this, “[…]”
He spent all his time with training, thus he was able to win the race. (The intended meaning is: it was the continuous training which made him able to win the race.)
One day the car broke down and thus the whole story began.
His companion allured the guard, in this way he get into the building.

But now it’s a different kind of attempt by using “did”:
She put on a big hat and thus did she walk. (now “thus” intended to mean: in this state/condition/appearance)

And different kind of sentences:
The bee lands on another flower, too, thus pollinating it.
He took her on his back, so they thus together fell into the water.

So+verb+...; verb+...+so

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