So or such? ('so a lot of people' vs 'such a lot of people')

[Julia]

I encountered a small problem and I don't know how it's right.Maybe you could tell me.

This is the first sentence:
"There are so many people there that it's impossible for us to get in."

How does it change if I replace "many" with "a lot of" ? Is it "so a lot of people" or "such a lot of people" ?

Thank you.

[Alan]

Hi Julia,

'So' in your sentence is an adverb and is used before adjectives and other adverbs as in:

She was so quick at finishing her work I didn't realise she had started.

She worked so quickly that I didn't realise she had started.

It follows therefore that you can't use it before 'a lot' and therefore you would say:

Such a lot of people.

Alan
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