“too…to…”是英语中常用的结果状语结构,核心含义是“太……而不能……”,表示“因程度过高而无法完成某动作”。
(“too”修饰形容词/副词,表“程度过高”;“to do sth.”是不定式,表“无法完成的动作”)
强调主语的“性质/状态太极端”,导致不能做某事。
He is too young to go to school.
(他太年幼,不能去上学。)
The coffee is too hot to drink.
(咖啡太烫,没法喝。)
This problem is too difficult to solve.
(这个问题太难,解决不了。)
强调“动作的程度太极端”,导致不能做某事。
She runs too fast to catch up with.
(她跑得太快,追不上。)
He speaks too quietly to hear clearly.
(他说话太轻,听不清楚。)
并非所有“too…to…”都有“不能”的否定含义,以下情况表肯定:
此时“too”相当于“very”,强调“程度高”,无否定。
The task is too easy to finish.
(这项任务太容易完成了。)(≠不能完成)
She is too ready to help others.
(她非常乐意帮助别人。)
“only/all/but too + 形容词 + to do”表示“非常……(愿意/能够)做某事”,是加强肯定的语气。
I’m only too happy to accept your invitation.
(我非常乐意接受你的邀请。)
He is all too eager to start the project.
(他极其渴望启动这个项目。)
“too + 形容词 + not to do”表示“太……而不可能不做”,即“肯定会做”。
He is too clever not to understand this.
(他太聪明了,不可能不懂这个。)(=肯定懂)
She is too kind not to help you.
(她太善良了,一定会帮你。)
“too…to…”可转换为“so…that…can’t/couldn’t…”(如此……以至于不能……),帮助理解否定逻辑:
He is too young to go to school.
= He is so young that he can’t go to school.
The box is too heavy to carry.
= The box is so heavy that I can’t carry it.
若不定式的动作需要明确“执行者”,可在“to do”前加for sb.:
This bag is too heavy for me to lift.
(这个包对我来说太重,提不动。)
The shirt is too small for him to wear.
(这件衬衫对他来说太小,穿不上。)
“too…to…”的核心是“程度过高导致无法行动”,但需注意特殊形容词(easy/ready等)、修饰词(only/all/but)或“too…not to…”结构会改变否定含义。理解时结合上下文,避免机械翻译。