**So,** (with a capital **S** and a comma) is commonly used at the **beginning of a sentence** as a **sentence adverb** or **discourse marker**. It often means: ### 1. To introduce a conclusion or result > The roads were flooded. **So,** we stayed home. = Therefore, we stayed home. ### 2. To continue or resume a topic > **So,** where were we? > **So,** as I was saying, the project began in 2023. ### 3. To introduce a question > **So,** what do you think? > **So,** how did the meeting go? This use is very common in conversation. ### 4. To introduce a new topic or summarize the situation > **So,** here's the plan. > **So,** that's what happened. --- ### Why the comma? When **so** functions as a discourse marker rather than as an ordinary conjunction, a comma usually follows it: ✓ **So, what happened next?** ✓ **So, that's the answer.** Without the comma, the sentence may still be grammatical, but it often sounds less natural or suggests a different structure: ✓ **So what happened next?** (also common, especially in informal writing) ✓ **So that's the answer.** --- ### Compare **Conjunction (usually no comma immediately after "so")** > It was raining, so we stayed inside. Here **so** connects two clauses. **Discourse marker (often with comma)** > **So,** we stayed inside. Here **so** means something like *well*, *therefore*, or *anyway*, and introduces the whole sentence. ### Chinese equivalents Depending on context, **"So,"** can mean: * **那麼，……** * **所以，……** * **於是，……** * **好吧，……** (conversation) * **那麼問題來了，……** Examples: > **So, what do you think?** > 那麼，你覺得怎麼樣？ > **So, here's the plan.** > 那麼，計畫是這樣的。 > **So, we decided to leave.** > 所以，我們決定離開。 -- The Prayer Life - Andrew Murray https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzOwqed_gET1387xVsAikYqYUQRNNak03 -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc), 來自: 220.136.204.195 (臺灣) ※ 文章網址: https://www.ptt.cc/bbs/Eng-Class/M.1780701662.A.695.html