“only too”是英语中用于加强语气的短语,核心含义是“非常;极其;实在太”,强调程度之深(远超普通的“very”或“too”),常带有“确实如此、超出预期”的意味。
“only too”只能修饰形容词或副词,不能直接修饰动词。常见结构和场景如下:
结构:主语 + be + only too + 形容词 + 不定式(to do)/ that从句
根据形容词的情感色彩(正面/负面),不定式的含义会有差异:
正面形容词(如happy, glad, willing, eager等):
不定式表示“非常乐意/高兴去做某事”(无否定含义)。
例:
I'm only too happy to help you with your homework.(我非常乐意帮你做作业。)
She's only too willing to share her expertise.(她非常愿意分享她的专业知识。)
负面形容词(如tired, busy, sick, late等):
不定式表示“实在太...而不能做某事”(加强“too...to...”的语气)。
例:
He's only too busy to attend the meeting.(他实在太忙了,无法参加会议。)
We were only too late to catch the last train.(我们实在太晚了,没赶上末班车。)
接that从句:
表达“非常清楚/意识到某事”(常与aware, conscious等词搭配)。
例:
I'm only too aware that this decision will upset some people.(我非常清楚这个决定会让一些人不满。)
They're only too conscious that time is running out.(他们非常清楚时间不多了。)
结构:主语 + 动词 + only too + 副词
强调动作的程度之深(如速度、力度、频率等)。
例:
She sings only too beautifully—everyone stops to listen.(她唱得实在太好听了——所有人都停下来听。)
He drives only too fast—it's dangerous!(他开车实在太快了——太危险了!)
表示“非常清楚地;深切地”,后接宾语从句或介词短语,强调对某事的了解/记忆深刻。
例:
I know only too well what it's like to fail an exam.(我非常清楚考试不及格的滋味。)
She remembers only too well the day her grandfather passed away.(她深切地记得祖父去世的那一天。)
普通“too...to...”:基本含义是“太...而不能...”(如:He's too tired to walk. 他太累了,走不动。)
“only too...to...”:加强“too...to...”的语气,表示“实在太...(以至于...)”(如:He's only too tired to walk. 他实在太累了,根本走不动。)
注:当形容词是正面情感时,“only too...to...”无否定含义,仅强调“非常乐意”(如:I'm only too happy to help. 我非常乐意帮忙。)
1、 正面情感:
We're only too glad to have you here.(有你在这里,我们非常高兴。)
They're only too eager to start the new project.(他们非常渴望启动新项目。)
2、 负面状态:
She's only too sick to go to school today.(她今天实在病得太重,不能上学。)
I'm only too busy to reply to your message earlier.(我实在太忙,没能早点回复你的消息。)
3、 修饰副词:
The rain fell only too heavily—our garden flooded.(雨下得实在太大了——我们的花园被淹了。)
He works only too hard—he needs to rest.(他工作实在太努力了——他需要休息。)
4、 固定搭配“only too well”:
We understand only too well the challenges you're facing.(我们非常清楚你面临的挑战。)
She knows only too well how much this means to you.(她非常清楚这对你有多重要。)
“only too”的核心是“加强程度”,无论是正面的“非常乐意”还是负面的“实在太...而不能”,都在强调状态或情感的深度。掌握其搭配(形容词/副词)和场景(正面/负面),就能准确使用啦!