Very vs. Too – Lesson
Understanding the difference between “very” and “too” is crucial for English language learners as these two adverbs often confuse non-native speakers due to their similar usage in emphasizing adjectives. “Very” is used to amplify the degree of an adjective without implying any consequence. For example, saying “She is very tall” simply states that her height is significantly above average. On the other hand, “too” implies an excess that often has a negative outcome, as in “She is too tall for the doorway,” suggesting that her height causes problems with fitting through the doorway.
Look at the two sentences. How are they different?
A: It is very hot.
B: It is too hot.
A is a simple statement- It’s HOT!
But B shows some difficulty, like maybe because it is so hot, I feel terrible. Or because it is so hot, no one is happy.
Here are some more…
C: Lisa is very tall.
D: Lisa is too tall.
C is a simple statement. Wow! Lisa is a tall girl.
But D has a negative feeling. Perhaps because Lisa is tall, she hits her head on the ceiling. Or maybe she is so tall, she can’t get a date or has no friends.
So remember, using too shows that there is a problem with the situation.
To reinforce your understanding of the differences between “very” and “too,” we’ve prepared a 5-question quiz. Each question will provide a sentence where you must decide whether “very” or “too” is appropriate based on the context provided. Pay attention to whether the adjective’s intensity is simply increased or if it causes an undesired outcome.
Check Your Understanding
| Check your answers in the Answer Key below. Choose very or too. 1. I think James is nice. Karen thinks James is nice, too.James is ___ nice. very or too 2. It’s cold outside. I hate it. I might become sick if I go out.It’s ___ cold outside. very or too 3. That box is so big. I can’t pick it up.That box is ___ big. very or too 4. Tony’s cat is fat. It weighs 8 kg.Tony’s cat is ___ fat. very or too 5. Tony’s cat is fat. It can’t run. It may not live a long time.Tony’s cat is ___ fat. very or too |
Frequently Asked Questions About Using Very and Too
“Very” enhances the adjective it precedes without suggesting that this is problematic, simply increasing the adjective’s intensity. “Too,” however, implies that there is an excess or a degree of something that leads to an undesirable outcome.
No, they cannot. While both can be used for emphasis, “too” should be used when the intensity of the adjective causes problems or is undesirable, whereas “very” simply makes the description stronger without negative implications.
Use “too” when the degree of the adjective prevents something from being acceptable or causes a problem. For example, if a sweater’s size prevents comfortable wear, you would say “The sweater is too small.” Use “very” when you want to stress the characteristic without implying a negative effect: “The sweater is very snug.”
Generally, the rules are consistent, but it’s important to note that some fixed expressions or idiomatic usages might seem like exceptions. For example, “too good to be true” is a set phrase where “too” indicates disbelief or skepticism.
“Very” cannot be used directly with verbs. To modify verbs, you can use “very much,” as in “I appreciate it very much.” However, “too” can modify verbs directly to express a negative result, such as in “He arrived too late to see the start of the movie.”
Answer Key:
- very
- too
- too
- very
- too