too & quite

Question

Hello.- She is too tall a girl.- She is quite a tall girl.To me, "too" and "quite" looks the same in their function, although their meanings are not, but the order people place an article, an adjective and a noun after each is different like the upper two sentences.Is there any reason for this?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

langtravelerIs there any reason for this?

The only reason is the word order rules for "too" and "quite". "quite" is more like "such"

She is quite a tall girl.
She is such a tall girl!

There's also "very", which has another word order.

She is a very tall girl.

CJ

Wilpeter · Answer

Consider this: “As girls go, she is too tall.” “As girls go, she is quite tall.”
Also this: “She is too tall for a girl.” “She is quite tall for a girl.”
It is the apparent need to include the information that she is a girl that complicates the sentence. As far as the meanings are concerned, “too tall” implies that there is a limit or standard for height that has been exceeded. “Quite tall” indicates that she is taller than required or expected or preferred—but not necessarily too tall.
When choosing actors, the male lead in a serious role would usually be taller than the female lead. When manufacturing clothes, women’s clothing sizes are usually much smaller than men’s; so ‘too tall’ might also be determined by available costume sizes.

too & quite

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