Hello native English speakers.

1a. If he so wishes he can move his home together with himself， and in fact often does so.
1b. If he wishes so， he can move his home together with himself， and in fact he often does so.

2a. 1. He so decided after checking all the data.
2b. 1. He decided so after checking all the data.

3a. I so hope you can get this job.
3b. I hope so--- you can get this job.

Question:

Which is grammatically correct?
he so wishes = he wishes so ??
Is that right by meaning?

I know that "so" as an adverb usually modifies adjectives or adverbs and is placed before them, for example: ...so many hours; We've worked so hard to get to this point.
However, I have never seen "so" as an adverb directly modifying a verb and being placed before the verb it modifies. But today I came across a sentence above with such a structure. Is it grammatically correct, or how to explain it grammatically?

Question

Hello native English speakers.

1a.  If he so wishes he can move his home together with himself， and in fact often does so.
1b.   If he wishes so，  he can move his home together with himself， and in fact  he often does so.

2a.  1. He so decided after checking all the data.
2b.  1. He decided so after checking all the data.

3a. I so hope you can get this job.
3b. I hope so--- you can get this job.

Question:

Which is  grammatically correct?
he so wishes =  he wishes so ??
 Is that right by meaning?

I know that "so" as an adverb usually modifies adjectives or adverbs and is placed before them, for example: ...so many hours; We've worked so hard to get to this point.
However, I have never seen "so" as an adverb directly modifying a verb and being placed before the verb it modifies. But today I came across a sentence above with such a structure. Is it grammatically correct, or how to explain it grammatically?

Answer

Here's the breakdown:

1a vs 1b — both are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different feels. "If he so wishes" is formal and somewhat literary or legal in tone — you'd see it in contracts or formal writing. "If he wishes so" is more conversational. In everyday speech, we'd more naturally say "if he wants to" or "if he wishes to."

2a vs 2b — "He decided so" (2b) is the natural order. "He so decided" (2a) sounds archaic or deliberately dramatic — you might see it in older literature but it would sound odd in modern English.

3a vs 3b — "I so hope you can get this job" (3a) is actually very natural in informal spoken English — "so" here adds emphasis, similar to "I really hope." "I hope so — you can get this job" (3b) changes the meaning entirely. "I hope so" is a response to something already mentioned, not a standalone statement.

To answer your grammar question directly: yes, "so" can modify a verb directly in English, but it's either very formal/archaic ("if he so wishes") or very informal and emphatic ("I so hope"). The middle ground — everyday neutral English — usually avoids it.

Great observation! 👏

Verpassen Sie nicht die Gelegenheit, bequem von zu Hause aus eine Sprache zu lernen. Stöbern Sie in unserer Auswahl an erfahrenen Sprachlehrern und melden Sie sich jetzt zu Ihrer ersten Unterrichtsstunde an!