such

Such is a versatile word in English that functions as a determiner, a pronoun, and, in some contexts, an adjective. As a determiner before a noun phrase, it intensifies or specifies quality: such a day, such people, such kindness. Used alone, it can act as a pronoun: I have never seen such. In fixed expressions like Such is life, it can appear predicatively.

Two common constructions involve such: such as and such that. The phrase such as introduces examples: fruits such as apples and oranges. The conjunction such that introduces a result or condition: the decision was such that we had to cancel. In mathematical and formal writing, you will see phrases like x such that x > 0, where such functions as a qualifier are standard.

With adjectives and nouns, such pieces follow a typical pattern: such a + singular count noun (such a problem), such + plural noun or uncountable noun (such books, such kindness). In general, such emphasizes the entire quality of the noun phrase rather than just its degree, which is the role often served by so in other constructions. The word can also stand in place of a noun phrase as a pronoun, as in “I’ve never seen such” or “Such was their commitment.”

Etymology traces back to Old English and related Germanic demonstratives. Today, such remains a common, productive element in both formal and informal English, contributing emphasis, specification, and variety to everyday expression.