The word so in English

It's a fact of language that  sometimes it is the shortest smallest words that cause the biggest problems for learners. Perhaps that's not surprising. Many words are short, because they are common; like is, or be or to or so. As essential common words, they've evolved for centuries, and their shortness has helped them to survive. They may not always be easy to use, but they are easy to remember. Many short words have several different meanings, sometimes very different meanings. "So" is a classic example of this.

The different meanings and uses of so

The word so has five common uses in English. To put it simply and clearly, it can express consequence, purpose, addition, degree, or confirmation.... Confusing?  Ambiguous? Well not really in most cases, as the word is used differently according to its function and meaning.:The following questions and answers explain the different situations.

1. How is so used to express consequence?

   In the first examples below, so is a conjunctive adverb expressing a consequence. (Some grammar books call it a coordinating conjunction.) This is the fundamental meaning of so as a connector. The coordinated clause of consequence must follow the main clause.

   In example A1 below, you might imagine that there could be an ambiguity between consequence and purpose; but this is not ambiguous for English speakers. A so clause following a main clause always expresses consequence unless it refers to future time. (Compare with example B1 below.)

   Examples A:

   1. I took my umbrella with me, so I didn't get wet.
   2. It was raining, so we stayed at home.
   3. The pilots are all on strike, so there are no flights today.
   4. They both have good jobs, so they have plenty of money.

2. How is so used

    to express purpose?

   To express purpose, so is used as a subordinating conjunction. It can either be used alone, or in the expression so that.

   The subordinate clause of purpose can either precede or follow the main clause. So that is usually preferred if the subordinate clause comes before the main clause. To express purpose, so that is more common than just so by itself, essentially to avoid ambiguity between purpose and consequence.

   Examples B:

   1. I took my umbrella with me, so I wouldn't get wet.
   2. So that you understand this, I'm making it as clear as possible.
   3. So you understand me, I'm being as clear as possible.
   4. I'm being as clear as possible, so you understand me.
   5. I took the fast train, so I'd get home early.
   6. I'm taking the small roads so as to avoid the traffic on the motorway.

   So, by itself, is mostly used to introduce clauses of purpose when they refer to future time, or relative future time (examples B1 and B5). In these cases, the meaning of so cannot be ambiguous. Compare examples A1 (consequence) and B1 (purpose).

   So as is used to express purpose, particularly in spoken English. In this case the verb in the secondary clause is in the infinitive with to (example B6).

   Note: so or in order for expressing purpose? As a general rule, so that is much more common than in order that (except in formal written language), and to or in order to are generally preferable to so as to (except in informal spoken language).

3. How is so used to express addition?

   Expressing an additional or duplicate action, so is used as a conjunctive adverb . It introduces the second clause, and the verb and subject of this clause are inverted.

   Examples C:

   1. I once lived in Bombay, so did my boss.
   2. He says he's got the answer, but so does everyone else.
   3. This computer has broken down, and so has that one.

4. How is so used to express a degree?

   So can also be used as an intensifier, an adverb of degree qualifying an adjective and expressing a relatively high degree or perception of high degree. Unlike other intensifiers (very, quite, etc.), so is not usually used with attributive adjectives, but only with predicative adjectives.

   Examples D:

   1. This ice-cream is so good.
   2. This ice-cream is ever so good.
   3. The computer is so old that it breaks down twice a week.
   4. This computer is so old; let's get a new one.
   5. You'd work better if you didn't talk so much.
   6. I'd buy more of these, if they weren't so expensive.

5. How is so used to express agreement or confirmation?

   Finally, so can be used to express agreement or confirmation, with the meaning of "that," "it is true," or "that that is true." It acts as a substitute word, or pro-form, referring back to a whole statement rather than a noun. Generally, it stands at the end of a statement, implying a (strong) confirmation of what has been said. It can also be used in dialogue to confirm the answer to a question.

   Examples E:

   1. He was very angry, and he told me so.
   2. I'm going to London next week, or at least I hope so.
   3. You shouldn't really stop work before six, but you can do so today.
   4. "Do we have enough money?" / "I think so"
   5. "Will they ever know what really happened?" / "I don't think so."
   6. "You told the judge that you had forgotten?" / "That is so."
   7. "You were in London last night, weren't you?" / "Quite so."
   8. So you've finished at last, have you?

Other functions of so

So is also used in a number of idiomatic phrases, such as "so and so", "and so on", or "so-so". Here are some examples with explanations:

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