so/such/very+that clause

[kachibi]

I read two grammar sites and a question comes to my mind:

We all know that it's grammatical to combine "so" or "such" with a that-clause:
e.g. It was so cold that we closed all windows/It was such a cold night that we closed all windows.

However, the sites SEEM to point out that combining "very" with a that-clause is ungrammatical:
e.g. It was very cold that we closed all windows/It was a very cold night that we closed all windows.

One site is this: Grammar Girl : Misusing

Hope some grammar experts can help.

 

[5jj]

However, the sites SEEM to point out that combining "very" with a that-clause is ungrammatical:
e.g. It was very cold that we closed all windows/It was a very cold night that we closed all windows.

That is indeed ungrammatical.

 

[kachibi]

O I see..
but is there any reason for that? Or it is simply grammar?

 

[Raymott]

O I see..
but is there any reason for that? Or it is simply grammar?

You forgot to ask a question in your first post. I assume you want to know why "so ... that" is correct while "very ... that" is not. Yes, it's simple English grammar; but it also relies on the meaning of "so".

A: "It was cold last night."
B: "How cold was it?"
A: "It was very cold. It was so cold [that] I had to light a fire."

 

[kachibi]

A: "It was cold last night."
B: "How cold was it?"
A: "It was very cold. It was so cold [that] I had to light a fire."

I can't get it. Cannot I say "it was very cold that I had to light a fire"?

 

[5jj]

Cannot I say "it was very cold that I had to light a fire"?

No. And the answer will still be no if you ask the question again.

 

[emsr2d2]

I can't get it. Cannot I say "it was very cold that I had to light a fire"?

No.

"Very" stands alone as an intensifier. "So" needs to be followed by a resulting action preceded by "that".

It was very cold.
It was so cold that I had to light the fire.

In that example, "so" means "to such an extent" and is therefore followed by "that". As shown in the Grammar Girl post that you linked to, "so" shouldn't really be used as an intensifier in the same way that "very" and "extremely" are, even though you will hear a lot of people say "It is SO cold today!" Grammatically, that's not correct but it's used a lot.


However, be aware that one can say:

It was very cold so I lit the fire = It was very cold and, because it was very cold, I lit the fire.

 

[kachibi]

Thanks!
Got your point!