So, Too, Very, That + Adjective

very + adjective expresses approval and may be followed by some other compliment or positive aspect e.g. You are very good students - it’s a pleasure to teach you.

so + adjective expresses great approval and often suggests a possible consequence e.g. You are so good that I think you could actually be teaching the class!

too + adjective indicates that there is an excess of something. This excess can be negative (e.g. This exercise is too hard) or potentially positive (e.g. You are too good for this class, I think I need to put you in a higher level).

that + adjective is often used to qualify or contradict what someone has just said e.g. A: You are an excellent student. B: I don’t think I am that good - I make lots of mistakes.

too much / many indicates an excess quantity of something, but without necessarily pointing at a consequence e.g. I drank too much wine and ate too many cakes.

so much / many indicates a big quantity that generally has a consequence e.g. I drank so much wine and had so many cakes that I was ill.

that much is often used to qualify or contradict what someone has just said e.g. I don’t think you had that much mine or even ate that many cakes - I don’t know what you are talking about.