📘 Why “So Delicious Meal” Is Wrong — But You Still Keep Saying It

Mastering So / Such / Too / Very on the TOEIC

🧠 Overview

You’re in a rush on the TOEIC test. You see a sentence like:

“It was ___ great presentation that everyone applauded.”

You think: “So great? Such great? Too great? Very great?”
Your instincts scream one thing. The timer screams another.

And just like that — you pick the wrong one.

This article is here to stop that from happening. No grammar theory. No jargon. Just the real logic that TOEIC is testing — and how to actually understand the difference between:

  • So

  • Such

  • Too

  • Very

Spoiler: They all feel similar… but follow very different rules.

🔍 The Real Problem

Let’s be honest: nobody teaches this well.

You were probably told:

  • “So” goes with adjectives.

  • “Such” goes with nouns.

  • “Too” means something negative.

  • “Very” is neutral.

Okay. Fine. But what happens when the sentence is:

“It was ___ delicious meal.”

You know “delicious” is an adjective… but “meal” is a noun… so do I need “such a”? “so”? “very”?
You guess.
TOEIC banks on that guess being wrong.

That’s the trap.

💣 Where Students Get Blown Up

Let’s look at the sentences TOEIC loves to test:

❌ “So delicious meal”

Wrong. Even though “delicious” is an adjective, it’s followed by a noun.
✅ Correct: Such a delicious meal.

❌ “Too beautiful view”

Wrong — unless the sentence means it’s a problem.
✅ Correct: Very beautiful view (if it’s just a nice thing).
✅ Or: Such a beautiful view (if used with a noun).
✅ Or: Too beautiful to be real (if expressing disbelief).

❌ “Very too much work”

Total nonsense.
✅ You can say too much work or very hard work, but you can’t combine “very” and “too” like that.

❌ “Such nice weather” → ✅ Yes

Wait — that one is correct. And it tricks students because “weather” is uncountable, so there’s no “a”, but “such” is still okay.

🧩 What TOEIC Is Really Testing

This isn’t about fancy English. It’s about pattern recognition.

Let’s break it down:

✅ “So”

Used before an adjective or adverb, often in cause-effect sentences.

“The meeting was so long that everyone left early.”

No noun directly after it. If you see a noun — don’t use “so.”

✅ “Such”

Used before a noun phrase — often adjective + noun.

“It was such a great presentation that people stood up.”

If there’s a noun, use “such.” If it’s a countable singular noun, add “a.”

✅ “Too”

Used for complaints or problems.

“It was too cold to go outside.”
“This chair is too expensive.”

If the sentence doesn’t involve a negative result, don’t use “too.”

✅ “Very”

Used for simple emphasis — but not for cause/effect or problems.

“She is very talented.”
“The instructions were very clear.”

It’s neutral. Strong, but not dramatic.

📝 TOEIC Examples

Let’s go test-style:

Q: The coffee was ___ hot to drink.

  • (A) so

  • (B) such

  • (C) too

  • (D) very
    ✅ Answer: (C) too
    → It’s a problem. “Too hot to drink.”

Q: It was ___ a difficult project that no one finished it.

  • (A) so

  • (B) such

  • (C) too

  • (D) very
    ✅ Answer: (B) such
    → “Such a” + noun. “A difficult project.”

Q: He gave a ___ detailed answer that the manager took notes.

  • (A) so

  • (B) such

  • (C) too

  • (D) very
    ✅ Answer: (A) so
    → No noun after “detailed.” Just an adjective.

✅ Final Takeaway

These four words are not difficult words — and that’s the danger.
They look easy.
They sound right.
They feel like they mean the same thing.

But TOEIC turns them into traps by:

  • Testing if you know what kind of word follows (noun? adjective?)

  • Testing whether the sentence is neutral, emotional, or a complaint

  • Testing if you can slow down, check the logic, and choose the right pattern

So before you mark your next answer on the test, ask:

❓ Is there a noun after this?
❓ Is this sentence neutral, emotional, or a problem?
❓ Is this about cause and result?

If you answer those correctly — you just beat the trap.

So / Such / Too / Very – Modifier Confusion What is the difference between so and such in English? “So” is used with adjectives or adverbs (so big, so quickly), while “such” is used before noun phrases (such a big house). Can I say 'so delicious meal'? No. That’s incorrect. If a noun follows, use “such” — for example, “such a delicious meal.” How do I know when to use too vs very? Use “very” for emphasis when something is strong or clear. Use “too” when the level is excessive and causes a problem. “Very hot” = strong heat “Too hot” = a problem caused by the heat Is 'such a nice weather' correct? No. “Weather” is uncountable, so you should say “such nice weather” (no “a”). Why is 'too good to be true' correct? Because it shows a negative result — the goodness is so extreme it seems unreal. That’s when “too” fits. What’s the correct way to use 'so...that' in a sentence? Use “so” + adjective + “that” to express cause and result. “The test was so hard that nobody passed.” Can I say 'very too much'? No. That’s incorrect. You cannot combine “very” and “too.” Choose one or the other depending on tone and meaning. When should I use 'such a' instead of 'so'? Use “such a” before adjective + countable singular noun. “Such a boring movie.” Not: “So boring movie.” Is it correct to say 'very delicious'? Yes. “Very delicious” is correct in casual English, though “delicious” is already strong — you don’t need “very.” Is 'too fast' always a bad thing? Yes — “too fast” implies a negative result. For neutral or positive, use “very fast.” Can I say 'such an amazing experience'? Yes. That’s correct. “Such” is used with an article (“an”) before a noun. Why can’t I say 'so interesting book'? Because a noun follows. Use “such an interesting book” instead. What does 'very' actually mean? It adds emphasis to adjectives or adverbs. It doesn’t imply any result, just strength. “Very clean,” “very late,” “very smart.” Can I use 'so' with uncountable nouns? Only if there’s no noun. “So” must not directly modify a noun. Say “so good” — but not “so soup.” What is the role of 'such' in TOEIC questions? TOEIC uses “such” in patterns like “such a… that…” to test if you can match adjective + noun structure correctly. Is 'too much tired' correct? No. You can’t use “much” with adjectives. Use “too tired” or “very tired.” Can I say 'very much expensive'? No. “Very much” can’t be used before adjectives. Correct forms are “very expensive” or “too expensive.” Is 'so much fun' correct? Yes. “Fun” is uncountable, so “so much fun” is correct and commonly used. Can I say 'such many people'? No. That’s incorrect. Use “so many people” instead. “Such” doesn’t work with quantifiers like “many.” What’s the difference between 'so good' and 'too good'? “So good” = high praise or strong quality. “Too good” = so strong it causes suspicion or a negative effect.