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Lin1978 Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

not too ... to

0Dear experts,02br
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00I got a little confused with these sentences.02br
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001. I am (only) too glad to help you.02br
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00This sentence means" I am glad to help you." because of the coexistence of two negative phrases - "only" and "too ... to" 02br
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002. They become too weak (even) to feed themselves.02br
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00This sentence means" They are so weak that they can't even feed themselves."02br
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00But, the next one confuse me ?02br
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003. Last night we had a fight. And this morning she 01font00wasn't 02font00too happy to see me.02br
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00Accroding 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 - "01font00wasn't02font00" and " 01font00too ... to02font00." So, how should I ascertain the correct translation?0-
  

Top answer

02br 02br 01i 00She wasn't too happy to see me. 02br 02br 01i 00They are too weak to feed themselves. = They are weakened more than they can be weakened and still be able to feed themselves.

— CalifJim

  • 02br 02br 01i 00She wasn't too happy to see me.
  • 02br 02br 01i 00They are too weak to feed themselves.
  • = They are weakened more than they can be weakened and still be able to feed themselves.
  • 02i 02br 02br 00 CJ0-
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4 Answers
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0 01i00too02i00 is sometimes used as a substitute for 01i00very02i00.02br
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01i00She wasn't too happy to see me. = She wasn't very happy to see me.02i02br
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00 In some set expressions 01i00only too02i00 is used for 01i00very02i00.02br

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0Thanks for your explanation.02br
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00But, when should I consider " 01font00too02font00 " as " 01font00very02font00 " and when should I consider it as " 01font00greater than desired or necessary amount02font00 " ?02br
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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.02br
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00 I don't see it as a problem of "negatives".02br
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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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0Thanks 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.02br
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00Thanks again for your patience and kindness.0-
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