Alanna Madden
December 1, 2019
Grammar Tips
While to and too look and sound similar, they are separate words with different uses in English grammar. To is a preposition used to connect nouns, adjectives, and verbs within the same clause. Too is an adverb we used to indicate excess in the same way as “also,” “additionally,” or “as well.”
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To and too are some of the most common words used in the English language, but they are also two of the most confused. Both terms are prepositions, which are the little words used in front of nouns and pronouns to connect subjects in a clause.
We use to as a preposition or an infinitive particle for nearly every type of sentence imaginable, such as describing an action, one’s direction, comparing sentence subjects, or telling a story in the past and future tense. But unlike the word to, we have several synonyms we can use in place too.
Too is an adverb used to express something in excess. We use it similarly to other adverbs, such as “for,” “very,” and “also,” or phrases like “as well.” Sometimes we hear the phrase “too much” to indicate “no more,” which is consistent with how too indicates an amount that is over an acceptable limit. In this case, too can carry a negative connotation, which enables too to be distinct from to in everyday speech.
Like most commonly confused words, to and too are examples of homophones. In case you’re unfamiliar with the grammatical term, homophones are sets of words that are pronounced and spelled similarly, but have different meanings. Language mix-ups are common for homophones, but they also indicate learning curves that occur within English as a Second Language (ESL) classrooms.
In 2014, the British Counsel’s Teaching English blog featured Adam Simpson, who explained the difficulties ESL students experience while learning to use English prepositions. According to Simpson, there is no logical way to understand which preposition is used with certain words, and since learning about prepositions cannot involve guesswork, students must learn whole expressions to use the correct word.
All languages have a to, whether it’s para for Spanish or chez for French. But what other languages expose about English grammar is how we use the same word, to, for several purposes, while other languages use different prepositions for specific sentence subjects. Simpson’s observations of his Turkish ESL student’s progress mirrors this concern and writes, “Turkish has one preposition serving the same purpose as ‘in,’ ‘on’ and ‘at’ in English, making it difficult for my learners to distinguish between their various uses.”
The confusion between to and too is easily remedied with practice and by memorizing the correct usage of too, especially since there are fewer instances where too is necessary. But in case you need a few grammar rules for the road, there is one common method used to remind ourselves of when to use to vs. too. The adverb too is used to indicate something additional or in an excessive amount, which can help grammar students remember how too uses two letter o’s while to only uses one.
Additionally, the word two is easily confused with to and two, especially when they’re used in parts of speech, or when all three words occur in the same sentence. For example,
Do you think it’s too much to buy two gifts instead of one?
Unlike to and too, the word two is only used to represent an exact numerical amount. The letter w helps English readers to understand the difference right away, but to entry-level English speakers, they may misinterpret the sentence’s meaning while spoken aloud.
It’s critical not to make this mistake and learn the difference early on:
Too is used for expressing something additional or an amount in excess.
Synonyms:
Additionally, again, also, as well, besides, either, further, furthermore, likewise, to boot, on top of, then, and what’s more.
Let’s take a look at specific examples for informally using too in place of the adverb “very:”
He’s not too excited about the party tonight.
Wyatt isn’t too bad at singing.
Synonyms:
Achingly, awfully, badly, especially, exceedingly, extremely, entirely, fully, immensely, incredibly, profoundly, really, seriously, severely, supremely, thoroughly, vastly, utterly, wholly, wildly.
Antonyms:
Barely, hardly, little, minimally, meagerly, negligibly, nominally, slightly, scantly, somewhat.
While describing a quantity of excess, we use too in the following examples:
Your approach to dating is too much.
My lunch is too spicy.
There are too many books for this shelf.
The stakes are too high.
As we can see from the examples above, too is used to express a disapproving amount of something in excess, whether it’s an approach, spice, books, or risk.
Synonyms:
Abnormally, astronomically, considerably, excessively, exorbitantly, inordinately, intolerably, obscenely, overly, unacceptably, unduly.
Antonyms:
Barely, deficiently, hardly, just, inadequately, insufficiently.
On a different note, we also use too in place of “so” for accusatory statements. If you’ve ever heard children arguing, you’re probably familiar with the following example:
“I didn’t steal her toy.” “You did too!”
To is a preposition we use in sentences to indicate several different actions, involving movement, direction, spatial position, relativity, and the comparison or connection between subjects. For example,
Langston Hughes lived from 1902 to 1967.
I walked to work this morning.
The dictionary is to the left of the lamp.
Don’t compare yourself to others.
Synonyms:
Ahead of, afore, before, ere, fore, of, previous to, and prior to.
Antonyms:
After and following.
As an infinitive particle, to is used before a verb to indicate how the sentence action is non-finite since the particle is not bound to a tense form or subject. We use infinitives more often than we’re aware of, especially when we’re describing an action in the present or future tense. For example,
I’m going to read.
Let’s go to sleep.
To also exists as an adverb to indicate direction or describe a degree of awareness, application, or proximity. For example,
The children ran to and fro through the schoolyard.
Our patient came to after receiving treatment.
The car trunk slammed to.
She saw them close to.
There are several different ways we use to as a preposition in the English language, such as expressing motion toward a location, connection, comparison, or a reference. In this sense, we use to in place of words like “toward” or “until.” We can break down each of these categories more through the following examples:
Example: Emily to walking to school.
Adam is driving to a bar mitzvah.
He’s going to the breakroom.
Example: My house is to the right of the post office.
Example: The company stayed open from 1995 to 2018.
The store is open from 9 a.m. to around 7 p.m.
Example: The mouse laughed himself to death.
We watched his rise to fame.
Example: The house burned to ash.
Example: …to Ms. Trunchbull’s disgust, Bruce ate the entire cake.
Example: Don’t speak to me that way.
Bring the cookies to mom.
Example: My brother is married to my nephew’s mom.
Avagadro’s Number is 6.022 to the 23rd power.
There are several steps to take along the way.
Example: I locked my bike to the gate.
Example: Open your books to page 35…
In regards to…
In reference to…
Example: Biology is easy to chemistry.
The infinitive particle is one of the most basic uses of language because it allows us to use verbs. Similarly to French être, the English Language uses to in the infinitive particle in order “to be” in the infinitive form. In this case, we use to as though it is part of an infinitive verb, but it’s important to understand how to is not part of a verb.
Let’s take a look at several different ways we use to as an infinitive particle:
Example: I am going to eat lunch.
She’s going to sing.
Example: I was able to paint.
We left her to be alone.
Example: I hope to earn an MFA next year.
How to learn the difference between to and too.
Example: She needs a bed to sleep on.
They want something to dream about.
Example: Lady Gaga is known to be kind.
The French are said to be very poetic.
Dogs are thought to be loyal.
Example: We were the fifth group to finish.
Henry was the last dog to arrive.
Example: We are about to leave.
The event is about to start.
Example: I know I should talk more, but I don’t want to.
Example: The ghost wandered the halls to and fro.
Example: Father finally came to after his post-dinner nap.
Example: The storm winds slammed the door to.
Kerouac set to his pen and began his written journey.
Example: We watched the soldiers stand to attention.
So, you think you’re a stickler for grammar? Test your to vs. too skills with the following multiple-choice questions.
Answers
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