“too...to”結構的用法剖析

程珊珊

“too...to ”結構的基本形式為：too+形容詞/ 副詞（for sb.）+to do sth. 。下面，筆者就“too... to ”結構的用法進行了剖析，以期對同學們有所幫助。

一、“too...to”結構表示否定意義

一般情況下，“too+形容詞/副詞（for sb.）+???? todosth. ”這一結構多用來表示否定意義，常意為“太……而不能……”，相當于“so+形容詞/副詞+that...not”，也可以轉換成“not +形容詞/副詞+enough（for sb.）todosth. ”。但需要注意的是，此結構中的形容詞或副詞與“too...to...”

結構中的形容詞或副詞互為反義詞。例如：

這塊石頭太重了，我搬不起來。

The stone is too heavy for me to carry.

= The stone is so heavy that I can t carry it.? =The stone is not light enough for me tocarry.

這箱子太小了，不能裝很多東西。

The box is too small to hold many things.

=The? box? is? so? small? that? it? can t? holdmany things.

=The box is not big enough to hold many things.

她太忙了，沒有時間注意到我的到來。 She was too busy to notice my coming.

= She was so busy that she didn t notice my coming.

=She? was? not? free? enough? to? notice? my coming.

他還太年輕，不懂得處世之道。

He s too young to understand the ways of the world.

=He is so young that he don t understandthe ways of the world.

=He is not old enough to understand the ways of the world.

二、“too...to”結構表示肯定意義

1.在運用“too...to ”結構時，當too前有not， never， none， no longer等否定詞修飾或不定式符號to前面含有not這一否定詞時，它構成了雙重否定，故而表示肯定意義，常意為“并不是太……能……”“非常（很，太）……不會不（肯定能）……”。例如：

You are too wise not to solve the problem.

你很聰明，肯定能解決這個問題。

The bike is not too old to repair.

這輛車并不是太舊，能修理好。

I was none too surprised to hear the news.

聽到這個消息，我一點兒也不驚訝。

Theboyis no longertooshytoaskquestions.

這個男孩不再膽怯，敢提問題了。

需注意的是，當“too...to ”結構與 can t 連用時，常意為“無論怎樣……也不過分”或“越……越……”。例如：

You can t be too careful to drive.

你開車無論怎樣小心也不過分。

One can t be too faithful to one s duty.

一個人對自己的職責無論怎樣忠誠也不過分。

2.在“too...to ”結構中，當 too 前面有 only， but， all， just，quite等副詞時，常表示肯定意義，其中only，but，all，just，quite too，相當于“very ”“extremely”，以意為“很/非常/十分/太/極其/特別……”，具有加強語氣的作用。例如：

They re only too pleased to help.

他們非常樂意幫忙。

She is but too glad to dance with you.

她十分高興能和你一起跳舞。

It sall? too? easy? to? be? influenced? by? our parents.

我們極其容易受父母的影響。

Jake was quite too angry to miss the first train.

錯過了第一班火車，杰克很生氣。

總之，在平時學習中，同學們要牢記“too... to ”結構的用法，結合具體的語境具體分析。

【練一練】

①The old man is too kind??????????? everyone in his neighborhood.

A. not impress

B. not impressing

C. not to impress

② The? cupboard? is? not? small? enough? to get through the door.（改為同義句）

→ The cupboard is??????????? get through the door.

【答案】①C? ②too big to