Where should I use ‘such’ or ‘such a’?

 

Though people fret on using ‘such’ and ‘such a’, but in fact there is hardly anything to get confused between the two. This is, indeed, an easy concept to remember.

The first thing to understand and remember here is that 'a' is an article. 'Such' just modifies what comes next in a particular sentence. If what is coming next in the sentence is already carrying the article 'a', then you just use such and leave the article as it is.

On the other hand, if what is coming next in the sentence does not have an article anyway, then also you only use such and write the sentence as it is.

In other words, such makes no difference to the sentence. If the sentence is already carrying ‘a’ before what is coming next, then you write such a. If the sentence does not have 'a' before what is coming next, then you just write such. For example:
a house - (there is 'a' before house) so you write such a house
water- (there is no 'a' before water) so you write such water
a good man - (there is 'a' before good man) so you write such a good man
behaviour - (there is no ‘a’ before behaviour) so you write such behaviour

Still confused?

The easiest way to remember this concept is by understanding that you should not use ‘a’ if such is describing an uncountable noun or something which is plural. For example, in the sentences:

She has got such beautiful hair.

Hair is usually uncountable, therefore, using ‘a’ is inappropriate with it.

James never paid such high taxes before.

‘Taxes’ is a plural noun and we do not use indefinite article with plural nouns, therefore no ‘a’ should be used in this case.

On the other hand, in the sentence:

They have such a love house.

House is usually a countable noun; therefore ‘a’ is used after such in this case.