Grammar · Free lesson
TOEFL sentence practice: such a useful example
The words are familiar. The challenge is keeping the noun phrase together when you build the sentence.
Professor Scott MendozaThe short answer
Say “such a useful example” but “so useful.” With a singular count noun, the core order is such + a/an + adjective + noun. With a plural or uncountable noun, omit a/an: “such useful examples,” “such useful advice.”
Look for the noun before choosing the pattern.
Such gives emphasis to a noun phrase. Example is a singular count noun, so it needs an article here. Useful begins with a consonant sound, so use a. In “The example is so useful,” useful is an adjective without a following noun. Do not mix the two core patterns as “a such useful example” or “such useful.”
Compare the examples
That was such a useful example.
That example was so useful.
Those were such useful examples.
The article follows such, not the other way around.
Build the meaning step by step
Build the noun phrase
a useful example
Put such before the article
such a useful example
Try it now
Choose the complete pattern
Read all answers and explanations
Choose the core such pattern with one useful example.
such a useful exampleSingular example needs a, and such comes before that article.
Complete: The explanation was ___ clear.
soClear stands alone as an adjective, so this core pattern uses so.
Choose the phrase about several helpful suggestions.
such helpful suggestionsPlural suggestions does not take singular a.
Put it into practice
Repair the article order
Keep such and one interesting lecture. Use the common such + noun phrase pattern.
It was an such interesting lecture.
See a model answer
It was such an interesting lecture.
This repairs the supplied pattern without changing the number of lectures.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Why is there no a in such useful advice?
Advice is uncountable in this meaning. Such does not make it countable.
She gave me such useful advice.
What about so many examples?
That is a separate quantity pattern. Use so before many or much; do not apply the basic noun-phrase rule mechanically to it.
We discussed so many examples.
Take it into your day
Such a useful example; so useful; such useful examples.
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