Inversion with so and such
Use formal inversion after fronted so + adjective and such + be to intensify a quality or degree.
Learning goal: Inversion with so and such
Construct literary and formal so or such inversion without confusing result clauses.
In a nutshell
Use formal inversion after fronted so + adjective and such + be to intensify a quality or degree.
Inversion with **so** and **such**
This formal structure emphasizes the degree of something, often with a result introduced by that.
1. So + adjective/adverb at the beginning
Pattern:
So + adjective/adverb + auxiliary + subject + verb + that ...
Examples:
So difficult was the exam that many students failed.
So beautiful was the view that we stopped to take photos.
So quickly did he run that nobody could catch him.
So loudly did they complain that everyone heard them.
Compare normal word order:
The exam was so difficult that many students failed.
He ran so quickly that nobody could catch him.
Use do / does / did when the main verb has no auxiliary:
So carefully did she explain the process that everyone understood.
2. Such + noun phrase at the beginning
Pattern:
Such + be + subject + that ...
Examples:
Such was his disappointment that he refused to speak.
Such was the noise that we could not concentrate.
Such were the conditions that the match was cancelled.
Such was her talent that everyone expected her to succeed.
Usually, such is followed by be, not do / does / did.
Compare:
His disappointment was such that he refused to speak.
The conditions were such that the match was cancelled.
3. So versus such
Use so with adjectives and adverbs:
So tired was she that she fell asleep immediately.
So slowly did the car move that we arrived late.
Use such with nouns or noun phrases:
Such was the confusion that nobody knew what to do.
Such a difficult task was it that few people attempted it.
The last pattern is possible but very formal and uncommon. More naturally:
It was such a difficult task that few people attempted it.
Watch out
Common mistakes
- Do not use question word order in the that clause:
So exhausted was he that he went straight to bed.
Not: So exhausted was he that did he go straight to bed.
The inversion happens only in the first clause.
- Do not use do / does / did after fronted such when the structure needs be:
Such was the pressure that several people withdrew.
Not: Such did the pressure become that several people withdrew.
- Do not use so before a noun phrase:
Such was the confusion that nobody knew what to do.
Not: So was the confusion that nobody knew what to do.
Key rule
Use:
So + adjective/adverb + auxiliary + subject + verb + that ...
or:
Such + be + subject + that ...
Choose so for adjectives/adverbs and such for nouns or noun phrases.
Self-check
Quick check
- Are you emphasizing an adjective/adverb? Use so.
- Are you emphasizing a noun or noun phrase? Use such.
- Is the result introduced by that?
- Does inversion happen only in the first clause?
- If there is no auxiliary after so, have you used do / does / did?
Put it into practice
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