Connectors / Adverbs – "So" Phrases

"So" Phrases

Examining the Uses of So

so… that (emphasis / result)
so that (purpose)
, so (result)
so-so, just so, so! (expressons)

So... that vs. so that

SO (THAT)		SO (adj / adv) THAT
ACTION / EFFORT	PURPOSE	CAUSE	EFFECT
We stayed out all night.	We watched the meteor storm.	We stayed out all night.	We were cold and tired in the morning.
We stayed out all night so (that) we could watch a meteor storm. (often with can or could)		We stayed out so long that we were cold and tired in the morning. (long = adverb)
We stayed out all night in order to watch a meteor storm.		The meteor storm was so beautiful that we stayed out all night. (beautiful = adjective)
An effort is made with a specific purpose or future goal in mind.		An action - past, present or future -has unplanned effects.

So...that – So

EMPHASIS / RESULT – SO (adj / adv) THAT		RESULT – SO
So...that places emphasis on the adjective or adverb.		COMMA – Use so to add a clause indicating a resulting action.
CAUSE	EFFECT	CAUSE	EFFECT
We stayed out all night.	We were cold and tired in the morning.	We stayed out all night.	We were cold and tired in the morning.
We stayed out so long that we were cold and tired in the morning.		We stayed out all night, so we were cold and tired in the morning.

So (that) – So

PURPOSE – SO	RESULT – SO
NO COMMA – Use so /so that before a clause indicating purpose or objective.	COMMA – Use so to add a clause indicating a resulting action.
The baby pulled the lever so (that) he could get some candy.	The baby cried, so his mother gave him candy.

No comma: The baby pulled the lever so (that) he could get some candy. The baby pulled the lever in order to get some candy. The baby pulled the lever to get some candy. The baby pulled the lever for some candy.	Comma: (or semi-colon between clauses) The baby cried, so his mother gave him some candy. The baby cried, therefore, his mother gave him . . . The baby cried; consequently, his mother gave him . . The baby cried; as a result, his mother gave him . . .

Related page: FANBOYS

Read & Contrast

Commonly Confused

So used with could

PURPOSE - NO COMMA - FUTURE INTENT	RESULT - COMMA - PRESENT REALITY
I took an Astronomy class so I could identify stars.	I took an Astronomy class, so I could / can identify stars.
MEANING: I took the class with the intention of being able to identify stars.	MEANING: I took the class in college. As a result of taking it, I could (then) and can (now) identify serveral stars, understand the paths of the planets and name the constellations.
The action was undertaken with the intent to reach a goal (future-past) which may or may not have been reached.	The action was taken. Some expected and unexpected results occurred.

PURPOSE - NO COMMA - FUTURE INTENT

RESULT - COMMA - PRESENT REALITY

I took an Astronomy class so I could identify stars.

I took an Astronomy class, so I could / can identify stars.

MEANING:

I took the class with the intention of being able to identify stars.

MEANING:
I took the class in college. As a result of taking it, I could (then) and can (now) identify serveral stars, understand the paths of the planets and name the constellations.

The action was undertaken with the intent to reach a goal (future-past) which may or may not have been reached.

The action was taken. Some expected and unexpected results occurred.

So and So!

so	It's so cold today. I'm so glad to meet you. (very)	, so	He left, so I left too. (result)
so	I want it so. (in this way)	so that	I left so that I could catch a bus. (purpose)
so	He wants it and so do I. (in the same way)	so . . . that	It was so hot that the candles melted. (result)
so-so	I'm feeling so-so today. (mediocre)	so to speak	He was pulling my leg, so to speak. (figuratively speaking)
so	I was so right there! (truly, indeed)	so much/many	We bought so much. (quantity)
so	Ten or so are here. (approximately)	so as	We laughed so as to make light of the situation. (for the purpose of)
So!	So! You took the last piece. (exclamation of shock or discovery)	so what?	So what? (Who cares? or What's the point?)

Practice1

Leonids - Meteor Showers

Read the sentence and decide which "so" phrase should be used.

Select your response.
Then, read the feedback about your reponse.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	YOUR RESPONSE FEEDBACK
1.	Scientists want to study such phenomena they can understand bio-origins. phenomena = phenomenon (plural) = an impressive occurrence of nature so that , so	FEEDBACK 1:
2.	Scientists are studying the phenomena they are learning a lot more about bio-origins. so (that) , so	FEEDBACK 2:
3.	A rainstorm was approaching the sky was overcast. (cloudy) so (that) , so	FEEDBACK 3:
4.	Some people went up in airplanes and flew above the clouds they could see the meteor showers. so (that) , so	FEEDBACK 4:
5.	Some people were in airplanes above the clouds they could see the meteor showers. so (that) , so	FEEDBACK 5:
6.	Because of the danger of bullet-particles, satellites are being repositioned they will be less likely to be damaged. bullet = high speed bits; less likely = lower chance so (that) , so	FEEDBACK 6:
7.	Scientists, over the past century, have noticed that this Leonid storm occurs every 33 years they predicted it would return this year. so (that) , so	FEEDBACK 7:
8.	Scientists, over the past century, carefully noted the occurences of meteor storms they could predict exactly when the Leonid would return this year. , so (that)	FEEDBACK 8:
9.	The best view is expected to be in Asia many scientists have flown there to make their observations. so (that) , so	FEEDBACK 9:
10.	Many scientists have flown to Asia they can be where the best view is expected. so (that) , so	FEEDBACK 10:

Practice 2

Read the sentence and decide which "so" phrase should be used.

Select your response.
Then, read the feedback about your reponse.

#	FEEDBACK	YOUR RESPONSE
11.	The Leonid watchers had to drive far North they could find less cloudy view of the sky. -- . . . so that so . . . that	FEEDBACK 11:
12.	The sky was full of clouds many Leonid watchers couldn't see the sky. -- . . . so that so . . . that	FEEDBACK 12:
13.	many people head for the mountains they can get a good view of the night sky. so . . . so that so . . . that	FEEDBACK 13:
14.	Scientists in observatories have to work quickly they can photograph the meteor as it passes earth in the upper atmosphere. so . . . so that so . . . that	FEEDBACK 14:
15.	Leonid's trail is wide as it passes earth, it affects the upper atmosphere. so . . . that so . . . so that	FEEDBACK 16:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonid_meteor_shower

Practice 3

Read the sentence and decide which "so" phrase should be used.

Select your response. Pay attention to the punctuation.
Then, read the feedback about your reponse.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	FEEDBACK
16.	In ancient times, people were frightened by meteor storms because they didn't understand what was happening they believed the storms were bad "omens". (sign of bad luck to come). so , so	FEEDBACK 16:
17.	In ancient times, people stayed inside they wouldn't have bad luck. so , so	FEEDBACK 17:
18.	A lot of people head for the mountains with warm sleeping bags they can sleep out and watch the "falling stars". so , so	FEEDBACK 18:
19.	A lot of people go camping in the summer and sleep outside they can watch the "falling stars". so , so	FEEDBACK 19:
20.	I took an Astronomy class in college I can identify the stars in the sky. so , so	FEEDBACK 20:

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Located in: * Adverb Summary ** Conditional Summary ***Punctuation Summary

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PRACTICE ON POINTS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR

Connectors

"So" Phrases

Examining the Uses of So

So... that vs. so that

So...that – So

So (that) – So

Read & Contrast

Commonly Confused

So used with could

So and So!

Practice1

Leonids - Meteor Showers

Read the sentence and decide which "so" phrase should be used.

Practice 2

Read the sentence and decide which "so" phrase should be used.

Practice 3

Read the sentence and decide which "so" phrase should be used.