“too...to...”是英语中表示否定结果的常用短语,核心含义是:太……而不能(做某事)。
结构:too + 形容词/副词 + to do sth.
too 修饰形容词或副词,to do sth. 是不定式(表“不能完成的动作”),整体表达“因程度过高而无法实现某个动作”。
She is too young to go to school.
她太小了,不能上学。
I feel too tired to cook tonight.
我太累了,今晚没法做饭。
He drives too fast to stop in time.
他开得太快,没法及时刹车。
She speaks too quietly to be heard.
她说话太轻,别人听不到。
若需明确“谁”不能做某事,可在to do前加for sb.:
This book is too difficult for me to read.
这本书对我来说太难,读不懂。
The box is too heavy for her to carry.
这个箱子对她来说太重,搬不动。
若动作是被动的,不定式用被动形式(to be done):
The coffee is too hot to be drunk now.
咖啡太烫,现在不能喝。
The door is too narrow to be opened wide.
门太窄,没法完全打开。
当too后接表情绪/意愿的形容词(如glad, happy, excited, eager, willing等)时,短语不再表否定,而是强调“非常……以至于(想做某事)”:
I'm too glad to see you!
见到你我太高兴了!(不是“太高兴而不能见你”)
They are too eager to start the project.
他们非常渴望开始这个项目。
当too前有only, all, but修饰时,也表肯定,意为“非常……(愿意做某事)”:
He is only too happy to help you.
他非常乐意帮你。
We are all too aware of the problem.
我们非常清楚这个问题。
“too...to...”可转换为so...that...can't/couldn't...(so后接形容词/副词,that引导结果状语从句),语义一致:
He is too short to reach the shelf.
= He is so short that he can't reach the shelf.
他太矮了,够不到架子。
不要混淆形容词与副词:实义动词需用副词修饰(如run too fast,不是quick);系动词用形容词(如be too tired)。
不要漏掉不定式的to:如“too tired cook”是错误的,应为“too tired to cook”。
总结:“too...to...”的核心是“程度过高→无法行动”,但需注意特殊形容词或修饰词带来的肯定含义,结合语境灵活判断。