Thread: Looking for language exchange

Originally Posted by kgcole

Btw I know that “that elegant” is more colloquial than “so elegant”. Could you comment on my using it here, please?

Well, your use of “that elegant” is correct. To say “so elegant” would be incorrect. I can’t think of a grammatical rule that prohibits its use, but I would say that “so” is most often used as a transitional word in conversation, “So, what do you think about that?” or “I think so.” To say “so
elegant” would sound uneducated. A better substitute would be “as elegant” in comparison; for instance, “That blue dress is not as elegant as the red dress.” You could also introduce the comparison in a previous sentence as in, “The blue dress is beautiful. I also think the red dress is not as elegant (as the blue dress).”

How come? I can hear “She is so beautiful” and like this at every step!

I know about comparisons. Yet I have a question on them, too. Is “That blue dress is not so elegant as the red dress” that common also?

Originally Posted by Helenej

How come? I can hear “She is so beautiful” and like this at every step!

I know about comparisons. Yet I have a question on them, too. Is “That blue dress is not so elegant as the red dress” that common also?

The use of "so" in that sentence would be correct...it expresses that the adjective is noted to a great degree. Similar to "чрезвычайно". The use of "so" as a means of comparison is improper. There you're mistaking the word "so" for the word "as". To write that sentence, one would say,"That blue dress is not as elegant as the red dress." It's a common mistake, really. We have a term called "rednecks" which basically means "uneducated". One sounds "redneck" to say "That dress is not so elegant as..."...lol.

Originally Posted by kgcole

The use of "so" in that sentence would be correct...it expresses that the adjective is noted to a great degree. Similar to "чрезвычайно". The use of "so" as a means of comparison is improper. There you're mistaking the word "so" for the word "as". To write that sentence, one would say,"That blue dress is not as elegant as the red dress." It's a common mistake, really. We have a term called "rednecks" which basically means "uneducated". One sounds "redneck" to say "That dress is not so elegant as..."...lol.

Ok, let me sum that up.
Both “She is so beautiful. period” and ”She is that beautiful. period” are correct. If so, what is the difference between them?

The constructions with comparisons “as...as” and ”not as... as” are correct, while “not so...as” is incorrect.

I’ve just examined my neck. It’s not red.

Originally Posted by Helenej

Ok, let me sum that up.
Both “She is so beautiful. period” and ”She is that beautiful. period” are correct. If so, what is the difference between them?

The constructions with comparisons “as...as” and ”not as... as” are correct, while “not so...as” is incorrect.

I’ve just examined my neck. It’s not red.

Your summation is correct. As far as the difference between “She is so beautiful” and “She is that beautiful”, the first is a statement of a current condition: “She is (at this moment) so beautiful. The latter is a comparison to a previously stated condition: “The Greeks and the Trojans fought because of Helen of Troy. She was that beautiful.” Why did they fight over her? Because she was that beautiful. See the difference?

Well, believe it or not, some people in our South are proud to be redneck….lol. It’s the cause of much joking and fun sometimes

Originally Posted by kgcole

Your summation is correct. As far as the difference between “She is so beautiful” and “She is that beautiful”, the first is a statement of a current condition: “She is (at this moment) so beautiful. The latter is a comparison to a previously stated condition: “The Greeks and the Trojans fought because of Helen of Troy. She was that beautiful.” Why did they fight over her? Because she was that beautiful. See the difference?

Yes, I do. So, you mean there are no any style difference between them like "that" is kind of more colloquial or low colloquial than "so"?

Originally Posted by Helenej

Yes, I do. So, you mean there are no any style difference between them like "that" is kind of more colloquial or low colloquial than "so"?

You're correct, there are no style differences between the two. But remember they each have a specific use according to grammar. One just has to remember what those uses are. You know, to me, those the subtle differences that can be learned from a native speaker. Those are the kinds of things I hope to learn from you about Russian, and hopefully what I can tell you about English.