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Laborious Posted 6 years ago
Grammar

"Too" - a negative meaning or a positive meaning

Hello teachers! I'd like you to help me with the following sentences, please.

1. She is too beautiful!

2. You are too kind!

3. Would you like to make a https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/donate?" "I'd be only too https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/pleased."


I've learnt that "too" can express both a negative meaning and a positive one. For example, it can mean i. "more than is necessary, wanted, acceptable, etc." And it can mean ii. "very" or "extremely" as well.


But, if that's true, how can we know whether it expresses a negative meaning (i) or a positive meaning (ii)?


Thank you!

  

Top answer

Laborious how can we know whether it expresses a negative meaning (i) or a positive meaning (ii)? If all you have is a written, isolated sentence, you can't know. In real life you have a context.

— CalifJim

  • Laborious how can we know whether it expresses a negative meaning (i) or a positive meaning (ii)?
  • If all you have is a written, isolated sentence, you can't know.
  • In real life you have a context.
  • You know what the conversation is about.
  • You know to some extent the opinions and the moods of the people participating in that conversation.
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2 Answers
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Laborioushow can we know whether it expresses a negative meaning (i) or a positive meaning (ii)?

If all you have is a written, isolated sentence, you can't know.

In real life you have a context. You know what the conversation is about. You know to some extent the opinions and the moods of the people participating in that conversation. You can watch

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LaboriousI've learnt that "too" can express both a negative meaning and a positive one. For example, it can mean i. "more than is necessary, wanted, acceptable, etc." And it can mean ii. "very" or "extremely" as well.

As you suggest, the degree adverb "too" can be an NPI (negatively-oriented polarity-sensitive item) as well as a PPI (positively-oriented pol

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