Grammar Pattern: "so + adjective + that" (Cause–Effect Emphasis)
This structure emphasizes that the degree of a quality (adjective) is so strong that it causes a specific result.
Formula:
Subject + be/linking verb + so + adjective + that + result (effect).
Meaning:
"So + adjective" = emphasizes the intensity of a quality.
"That" introduces the consequence or effect.
Think of it as:
Cause (very strong quality) → Effect (result).
Example Analysis
Sentence:
The debate became so heated that the moderator had to interrupt several times.
Subject: The debate
Adjective: heated
Cause: The debate was extremely heated.
Effect: The moderator had to interrupt several times.
Meaning: The debate became extremely intense, causing repeated interruptions.
Five Unique Examples
1. Weather
The rain was so heavy that the roads flooded within an hour.
Cause: The rain was extremely heavy.
Effect: The roads flooded.
2. Technology
The software was so intuitive that even first-time users mastered it quickly.
Cause: The software was very intuitive.
Effect: New users learned it quickly.
3. Sports
The goalkeeper was so alert that he saved every difficult shot.
Cause: The goalkeeper was extremely alert.
Effect: He saved every difficult shot.
4. Education
The exam was so challenging that many students needed extra time to finish.
Cause: The exam was extremely challenging.
Effect: Many students required extra time.
5. Business
The product became so popular that the company could not keep up with demand.
Cause: The product was extremely popular.
Effect: The company couldn't produce enough.
More Examples
The coffee was so hot that I couldn't drink it immediately.
She was so excited that she couldn't sleep.
The room was so quiet that we could hear the clock ticking.
The mountain was so steep that climbing it took twice as long.
The movie was so emotional that many people cried.
Key Point
The pattern always follows this idea:
So + adjective → that → consequence
Examples:
so difficult that everyone struggled.
so beautiful that tourists stopped to take photos.
so expensive that few people could afford it.
so noisy that I couldn't concentrate.
so bright that we had to wear sunglasses.
This construction is used to emphasize how strongly a quality leads to a particular result.
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