Too or very: degree and excess

The idea

Put very before a gradable adjective or adverb for a strong degree. Put too before one when the degree is more than acceptable or possible. Use too much with uncountable nouns and too many with plural countable nouns.

Examples

• The soup is too hot to eat now.
• Mina is very proud of her garden.
• The suitcase is too heavy for Leon to lift.
• Our guide spoke very clearly during the tour.
• There are too many chairs in this small room.
• The train arrived very late, but we still caught the ferry.

Watch out

Do not use too simply to mean very: it usually suggests an unwanted result. Context can make that result clear.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct option. The box is ___ wide to fit through the door. (too / very)

   Show answer or example answer

   too

   too: its width prevents the box from fitting.

2. Choose the correct option. The concert was ___ enjoyable; everyone had a wonderful time. (too / very)

   Show answer or example answer

   very

   very: the enjoyable concert is presented positively.

3. Choose the correct option. There is ___ much noise here for me to concentrate. (too / very)

   Show answer or example answer

   too

   too: the noise prevents concentration.

Use it today

Describe a comfortable room and a room that is uncomfortably hot.