Too Very So

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Too Very So

These are three words that are sometimes confused. All three words come in front of adjectives, but they don't have the same meanings.

The elephant was too big. It couldn't fit through the door.

I am very happy with my new job.

I was so angry with Andrew that I didn't talk to him.

Use too when you want to express excess.

The coffee was hot. I couldn't drink it.

The coffee was too hot to drink.

My pants are too long. I have to shorten them.

I'm sorry; I can't go to that restaurant. It's too expensive.

Use very when you want to intensify an adjective.

I was very young when I read that book.

José likes feijoada very much.

It's very dark out tonight.

That restaurant is very expensive. I'll go there when I get paid.

Use so when you want to show a cause and effect.

Samuél was so late that he missed most of the concert.

My car is so old that I'm going to have to get rid of it.

It was so dark outside that Agnes tripped over my bicycle.

The restaurant was so expensive that César had to borrow money from his girlfriend.

	Meaning	Formation
The coffee was too hot to drink.	…the coffee is excessively hot …it is impossible to drink…too is always negative…	place too before the adjective
The coffee was delicious and very hot.	…the coffee was hot but drinkable…	place very before the adjective… Note: do not use very with delicious.
The coffee was so good that I had another cup.	…the result of the coffee being good was that I had a second cup…	enclose the adjective (or adverb) with so…that… …so good that… …so fast that…