Too…To vs. So…That

The structure too…to… is used to talk about undesirable excess. It has a negative meaning.

Study the following sentences.

• He was very nervous. He couldn’t perform well on stage.
• He was too nervous to perform well on stage.

We can also express the same idea using so…that…

• He was so nervous that he couldn’t perform well on stage.

More examples are given below.

• It was very hot. We didn’t go out.

• It was too hot for us to go out. (Note the use of for us in this sentence. When the clauses have different sentences, we introduce the second subject with for.)
• It was so hot that we didn’t go out.

• The problem was very difficult. I couldn’t solve it.
• The problem was too difficult for me to solve. (NOT The problem was too difficult for me to solve it.)
• The problem was so difficult that I couldn’t solve it. (NOT The problem was so difficult that I couldn’t solve.)

• The tea was very hot. I couldn’t drink it.
• The tea was too hot for me to drink. (NOT The tea was too hot for me to drink it.)
• The tea was so hot that I couldn’t drink it.

• He earns very little. He cannot lead a comfortable life.
• He earns too little to lead a comfortable life.
• He earns so little that he cannot lead a comfortable life.

• She is very clumsy. She cannot handle glassware properly.
• She is too clumsy to handle glassware properly.
• She is so clumsy that she cannot handle glassware properly.

Too….not to…

This structure is used when both sentences are in the affirmative.

Read the following sentences.

• The dress is very bright. It will attract the attention of people.

We can express the same idea using too…not to…

• The dress is too bright not to attract the attention of people.
• The dress is so bright that it will certainly attract the attention of people.

• The crowd is very big. We will have trouble maintaining discipline.
• The crowd is too big for us not to have trouble maintaining discipline.
• The crowd is so big that we will have trouble maintaining discipline.

• The article is too long. The editor will cut it short.
• The article is too long for the editor not to cut it short.
• The article is so long that the editor will cut it short.