Learn Grammar: Remove 'too'

Hello, students! Today, we're going to learn a cool trick in English: how to change sentences that use the word 'too'. Sometimes, 'too' means something is more than we need, like 'too hot' or 'too slow'. We will learn how to say the same thing in a different way. It's like solving a fun puzzle! Let's look at the simple rules below to become grammar experts.

The Rules for Removing 'too'

To remove 'too' from a sentence, you can use these simple techniques:

When 'too' is alone, change it to: very, excessively, or extremely.
For the pattern 'too ... to', change it to: so ... that ... cannot / could not.
If the sentence is in the Present Tense (uses 'is', 'am', 'are'), you should use cannot.
If the sentence is in the Past Tense (uses 'was', 'were'), you should use could not.

Examples: Remove 'too'

1. It is too hot outside.

It is very hot outside.

2. These books are too expensive.

These books are very expensive.

3. Raja is too fond of sweets.

Raja is extremely fond of sweets.

4. It is too sour.

It is very sour.

5. The king was too infallible (perfect) to make a mistake.

The king was so infallible that he could not make a mistake.

6. I am too tired to think of anything.

I am so tired that I cannot think of anything.

7. He spoke too fast to be understood.

He spoke so fast that one could not understand.

8. He is too proud to beg.

He is so proud that he cannot beg.

9. Hitler was too cruel to spare the Jews.

Hitler was so cruel that he could not spare the Jews.

10. The Chief Minister Mr. Raja was too busy to give us an appointment.

The Chief Minister Mr. Raja was so busy that he could not give us an appointment.

11. Parents nowadays are too busy to pay attention to their children's education.

Parents nowadays are so busy that they cannot pay attention to their children's education.

12. It became too dark to read easily.

It became so dark that one could not read easily.

13. I too won a ticket to go to the cinema.

I also won a ticket to go to the cinema.

14. He too got it right.

He also got it right.

Practice: Combine Sentences with 'too...to'

Now, let's try the reverse! Combine the sentences below using the 'too...to' structure.

Questions

1. The place was very noisy. I couldn’t hear anything properly.

2. He earns very little. He cannot keep his family in comfort.

3. I know him very well. I don’t like him.

4. She was very anxious about her husband. She could not think about anything else.

5. She is very clumsy. She cannot handle glassware carefully.

Answers

The place was too noisy to hear anything properly.

He earns too little to keep his family in comfort.

I know him too well to like him.

She was too anxious about her husband to think about anything else.

She is too clumsy to handle glassware carefully.

Difficult Words and Meanings

Excessively: More than what is normal or needed.
Extremely: Very, very much.
Expensive: Costing a lot of money.
Fond of: Liking something a lot.
Infallible: Perfect; never making mistakes.
Proud: Feeling very pleased with yourself, sometimes too much.
Cruel: Very mean and hurtful to others.
Spare: To show mercy and not harm someone.
Appointment: A plan to meet someone at a certain time.
Attention: Looking at or thinking about something carefully.
Anxious: Feeling worried or nervous.
Clumsy: Awkward when moving; often dropping or breaking things.
Desirable: Something that you want or wish for.
Nervous: Feeling worried and a little scared about something new.

Remove too