Hello. I'd like to know how to distinguish between these two meanings of such. How do I know which sentence below to which meaning? Sometimes I feel that it's not simple because I think that both meanings can be embedded in the sentence.
Meaning 1) Of the same kind.
Meaning 2) Of so extreme a degree or quality.
He had never seen such high mountains. -> could it be: so high mountains or/and the same mountains that I saw one day.
He has never made such mistakes before. -> could it be: so big mistakes or/and the same mistakes that I made one day.
I've never seen such a funny thing. -> could it be: a thing so funny or/and the same funny thing that I saw one day.
He had no strength so bear such grief. -> could it be: a grief so extreme or/and a grief that I felt before.
Meaning 1) Of the same kind.
Meaning 2) Of so extreme a degree or quality.
He had never seen such high mountains. -> could it be: so high mountains or/and the same mountains that I saw one day.
He has never made such mistakes before. -> could it be: so big mistakes or/and the same mistakes that I made one day.
I've never seen such a funny thing. -> could it be: a thing so funny or/and the same funny thing that I saw one day.
He had no strength so bear such grief. -> could it be: a grief so extreme or/and a grief that I felt before.
(1) would modify a noun and (2) would modify an adjective or adverb.
In your first 3 examples, it could only be the first answer, since the sentence itself states that the speaker 'had never seen/made' before; similarly with the 4th-- the speaker, if he had experiences so extreme a grief earlier, had indeed borne it.
In your first 3 examples, it could only be the first answer, since the sentence itself states that the speaker 'had never seen/made' before; similarly with the 4th-- the speaker, if he had experiences so extreme a grief earlier, had indeed borne it.
Comments
* You put an A before a singular noun, and you don't put an A before an uncountable noun to refer to "the same kind or type" or "to add emphasis". So we have:
There is such beauty and mystery here.
She usually doesn't receive such criticism.
We never saw such a day.
Fred is such a clown!
* On the other hand, when such modifies an adjective or adverb, to refer to "to so extreme a degree", it's the same story, A before countable and nothing before uncountable:
He's such a good athlete.
I've never seen such an exciting film.
They're such good friends.
How could you say such horrible things to me?
Could you check my interpretation?
No article before uncountable or plural nouns, woith or without another adjective.
Such a friend
Such an old friend
Such water
Such good water
Such friends
Such old friends
Nothing unusual there, Latin-- just like normal article usage.