Lin1978 Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
not too ... to
0 Dear experts, 02 br
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00 I got a little confused with these sentences. 02 br
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00 1. I am (only) too glad to help you. 02 br
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00 This sentence means" I am glad to help you." because of the coexistence of two negative phrases - "only" and "too ... to" 02 br
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00 2. They become too weak (even) to feed themselves. 02 br
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00 This sentence means" They are so weak that they can't even feed themselves." 02 br
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00 But, the next one confuse me ? 02 br
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00 3. Last night we had a fight. And this morning she 01 font 00 wasn't 02 font 00 too happy to see me. 02 br
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00 Accroding to the context, I know the sentence means "she was unhappy to see me." But, if there is no context, I would translate the sentence "she was happy to see me." due to the coexistence of two negative phrases - " 01 font 00 wasn't 02 font 00 " and " 01 font 00 too ... to 02 font 00 ." So, how should I ascertain the correct translation? 0-
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00 I got a little confused with these sentences. 02 br
02 br
00 1. I am (only) too glad to help you. 02 br
02 br
00 This sentence means" I am glad to help you." because of the coexistence of two negative phrases - "only" and "too ... to" 02 br
02 br
00 2. They become too weak (even) to feed themselves. 02 br
02 br
00 This sentence means" They are so weak that they can't even feed themselves." 02 br
02 br
00 But, the next one confuse me ? 02 br
02 br
00 3. Last night we had a fight. And this morning she 01 font 00 wasn't 02 font 00 too happy to see me. 02 br
02 br
00 Accroding to the context, I know the sentence means "she was unhappy to see me." But, if there is no context, I would translate the sentence "she was happy to see me." due to the coexistence of two negative phrases - " 01 font 00 wasn't 02 font 00 " and " 01 font 00 too ... to 02 font 00 ." So, how should I ascertain the correct translation? 0-
Top answer
02 br 02 br 01 i 00 She wasn't too happy to see me. 02 br 02 br 01 i 00 They are too weak to feed themselves. = They are weakened more than they can be weakened and still be able to feed themselves.
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0 01 i 00 too 02 i 00 is sometimes used as a substitute for 01 i 00 very 02 i 00 . 02 br
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01 i 00 She wasn't too happy to see me. = She wasn't very happy to see me. 02 i 02 br
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00 In some set expressions 01 i 00 only too 02 i 00 is used for 01 i 00 very 02 i 00 . 02 br
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01 i 00 She wasn't too happy to see me. = She wasn't very happy to see me. 02 i 02 br
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00 In some set expressions 01 i 00 only too 02 i 00 is used for 01 i 00 very 02 i 00 . 02 br
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0 Thanks for your explanation. 02 br
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00 But, when should I consider " 01 font 00 too 02 font 00 " as " 01 font 00 very 02 font 00 " and when should I consider it as " 01 font 00 greater than desired or necessary amount 02 font 00 " ? 02 br
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00 But, when should I consider " 01 font 00 too 02 font 00 " as " 01 font 00 very 02 font 00 " and when should I consider it as " 01 font 00 greater than desired or necessary amount 02 font 00 " ? 02 br
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0 Try both meanings. It is rare that both make sense. Choose the one that makes the most sense in the context you are working with. 02 br
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00 I don't see it as a problem of "negatives". 02 br
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00 English is full of exceptions. In your place I would not try to approach it so mathematically: In case 1, do this; in case 2, do that. Rather, use w
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00 I don't see it as a problem of "negatives". 02 br
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00 English is full of exceptions. In your place I would not try to approach it so mathematically: In case 1, do this; in case 2, do that. Rather, use w
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0 Thanks for your reply. Now I know exactly what you want to say. I think I got some sort of bad habits or addiction ... try to induce every possibility and find a single answer. 02 br
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00 Thanks again for your patience and kindness. 0-
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00 Thanks again for your patience and kindness. 0-
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