Using to and too in a sentence for each word

Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links, meaning that when you make a purchase, I earn a small commission. Affiliate links cost you nothing to use and help keep my content free. It is a win-win for us both! For more info, see the Disclosure Policy.

When do you use “too,” and when do you use “to”?

Let’s discuss the difference between “too” and “to” and when it is appropriate to use each. We’ll also provide examples to see how they are used in context.

“Too” and “to” are homophones. This means that they sound similar, but they have different meanings.

“Too” (adverb) and “to” (adverb, infinitive marker and preposition) have multiple meanings.

“Too” typically means that something is excessive or more than necessary. It can mean “also.”

“To” can indicate movement or direction towards something. It forms the infinitive of verbs and is used after some adjectives, nouns, and many verbs of agreeing, wanting and needing. It has many different meanings.

Take the example:

• The room was too hot for me to sleep in. (“too” to show excess)
• I need to go to the store. (“to” used for direction)

How to use each word correctly

Now that we’ve highlighted some of the main differences between “too” and “to,” let’s look at other examples and contexts.

When to Use “Too”

“Too” is most commonly used when talking about:

• Something is excessive or more than necessary, meaning “very” or “extremely.”
• It can be used at the end of a sentence to indicate “also.”
• It is sometimes used in colloquial language for emphasis.

Example Sentences of “Too”

Let’s take a look at some examples:

• I’m too tired to go out tonight. (used to mean “too much”)
• The food was too spicy for me to eat.
• You’re driving too fast!
• You are too young to learn how to drive.
• That boy is too cute. (used for emphasis)
• “I, too, believe it’s the right answer.
• Charlie is coming to the zoo too. (used to mean “also”)
• I like pizza too.

“Too” can also be used before “many,” “much,” “few,” “little,” etc. For example:

• I have too much work to do.
• She has too many cats.
• They have too little time.

When to Use “To”

“To” is used more broadly than “too” and can be used to indicate movement or direction, as well as other relationships. It may be used to talk about:

• Direction and destination
• As a receiver of an action
• Telling the time
• Show the range of possibilities or time range
• Used after some verbs, such as “agree to,” “appear to,” “need to,” “want to,” and “seem to”
• Used after some adjectives, such as “nice to” and “rude to”
• Used to form the infinitive of the verb, such as “to do,” “to see,” “to get

“To” is used in many situations that we won’t be able to cover entirely in this post. However, we will do our best to cover when it is most frequently used.

Example Sentence of “To”

Here are some example sentences of “to” to give you an idea of how it can be used:

• I am going to the store.
• Take a right to get to the zoo.
• We drive to work every day.
• Can you pass the salt to me?
• The teacher gave candy to the students.
• Can you get me that book? It’s right next to you.
• I need to talk to you about something important.
• I have to take medicine for my stomachache.
• Here is a list of phone numbers to call in an emergency.
• I want to see the dentist.
• The baby will be born in 6 to 8 weeks.
• The birthday party is from 2 pm to 5 pm.
• I agree to the terms and conditions.
• I don’t know the answer to the question.
• He seems to be sick.
• Sally decides to clean up the dishes.
• The appointment is at quarter to five.
• The grandson is very polite to his elders.

When to Use “Two”

“Two” is used to indicate the number 2.

Here are some examples of how to use “two”:

• I have two cats.
• She is two years old.
• We need two more people for the team.
• I have $20 in twos.
• There are two tickets left.
• Two of us can lift this table.

Too or To: Which Word is More Appropriate?

Let’s try a quiz to practice using “to” and “too” in sentences.

1. “Have a nice weekend.” “You _____.” (you to/ you too)

Incorrect: you to

Correct: you too

2. “Please refer _____ the instructions that came with the blender.” (refer to/ refer too)

Incorrect: refer too

Correct: refer to

3. I referred _____ many people to that website and didn’t get any credit for it. (referred to/ referred too)

Incorrect: referred to

Correct: referred too

4. I ate _____ much fish for lunch.” (to much/ too much)

Incorrect: to much

Correct: too much

5. “Luke ran fast _____ the park.” (fast to/ fast too)

Incorrect: ran fast too the park

Correct: ran fast to the park

6. I can’t eat it; it has _____ many calories.” (to many/ too many)

Incorrect: to many

Correct: too many

7. “Enjoy the holiday.” “Thanks, you _____.” (you to/ you too)

Incorrect: thanks, you to

Correct: thanks, you too

8. “Would you like to go to the cinema with me?” “I would love _____.” (love to/ love too)

Incorrect: I would love too

Correct: I would love to

9. “It’s been way _____ long since we saw each other.” (to long/ too long)

Incorrect: to long

Correct: too long

10. “You have _____ much work to do.” (have to/ have too)

Incorrect: You have to

Correct: You have too

11. “You have _____ brush your teeth before bed.” (have to/ have too)

Incorrect: You have too

Correct: You have to

12. “You are _____ young to be drinking alcohol.” (to young/ too young)

Incorrect: to young

Correct: too young

13. “I love you _____.” (you to/ you too)

Incorrect: I love you to

Correct: I love you too.

14. “The gloves are _____ small for my hands.” (to small/ too small)

Incorrect: to small

Correct: too small

15. “Will I clean the dishes?” “You don’t have _____.” (have to/ have too)

Incorrect: You don’t have too

Correct: You don’t have to

16. “I like that _____.” (that to/ that too)

Incorrect: that to

Correct: that too

17. “I am _____ old to be doing this.” (to old/ too old)

Incorrect: to old

Correct: too old

18. “What are you up _____ this weekend?” (up to/ up too)

Incorrect: up too

Correct: up to

19. The taxi driver pulled up. “Where ____ma’am?” (where to/ where too)

Incorrect: where too

Correct: where to

20. “I got the virus.” “Not you _____.” (you to/ you too)

Incorrect: not you to

Correct: not you too.

21. “I used _____ go to my gran’s house every weekend.” (used to/ used too)

Incorrect: used too

Correct: used to

22. “It is _____ late to start now.” (to late/ too late)

Incorrect: to late

Correct: too late.

23. “He is referring _____ the instructions.” (referring to/ referring too)

Incorrect: referring too

Correct: referring to

24. “I need _____ go to the toilet.” (need to/ need too)

Incorrect: need too go

Correct: need to go

25. “He runs _____ fast.” (to fast/ too fast)

Incorrect: to fast

Correct: too fast.

Using a Comma with “Too”

Sometimes we can use a comma with “too.” For example, we can say: “I love you too” or, “I love you, too.” This will depend on the writer’s style and how they want to convey their message. A comma slows down the sentence and may be used for emphasis. If you use “too” in the middle of the sentence, you might need to include the comma. For example, “He was, too, a very talented musician.”

In Conclusion

“Too” and “to” might look and sound the same, but they have different meanings. We can quickly check the meanings of the words by using an autocorrelation tool when writing, but we should also try to understand why we spell them the way we do.

If you learn that we use “too” to mean “also” or “too much,” and for emphasis, we can more or less assume “to” is used for everything else.

Comment with your own “to” and “too” sentences. I will be reading! Good luck!

Main To vs. Too Takeaways:

• To is typically a preposition or infinitive verb.It shows a relationship between words or elements.
• Too is always an adverb.
• It can also indicate an excessive amount. Therefore, when you need a word that means more, use too with more ‘Os’.
• What’s more, too can be a synonym for really, also, and in addition.
• When you aren’t sure whether to use to vs. too, replace the word with really, also, or in addition. If the sentence still makes sense, too is correct.
• Too can also indicate agreement. Since you need at least two people to come to an agreement, think of the two ‘Os’ in too.
• Two is always a number.

To vs. too: which one is correct? And what about two? We break things down in this super easy guide.

To vs. Too vs. Two

On one hand, to (one ‘O’) shows the relationship between two words. Itcan be a preposition or an infinitive verb that joins words or clauses together. When it comes before a verb, it helps form an infinitive verb, or a verb that is not conjugated. Sometimes to also acts as an adverb, but this is rare. On the other hand, too (two ‘Os’) is always an adverb. It has several meanings and uses. First, too means also. In other cases, it refers to an excessive amount, such astoomuch. What’s more, too can indicate agreement, such as me too. Conversely, two is always a number. It’s how we write out the number 2.

Two is always a number. You can never use two in place of too or to.

Remember, to and too are never interchangeable. You also can’t use two instead of to or too.

How do you Remember the Difference Between To and Too?

Here is the easiest way to remember the difference between to and too: use the ‘O’ trick. Too can indicate something excessive or be a synonym for also or in addition. Remember that when a word means more, you need more ‘Os’. Similarly, it takes at least two people to agree on something, so you need two ‘Os’ to express that (I think sotoo.). Another trick is to replace the word with really, very, or also. If the sentence still makes sense, the use too. If not, you probably should use to.

On the other hand, since to is a preposition or infinitive verb that links parts of a sentence together, think of the one ‘O’ as one link. When you need a link to show direction or to show that a verb is an infinitive, use to.

Do you Need a Comma Before or After too?

There really is no fixed grammar rule when it comes to using commas with the adverb too. Because the overall meaning usually depends on the writer’s intent, adding a comma before too is more of a stylistic or personal choice. That said, if your sentence would be clearer with a comma, use one. All in all, if too functions as an interrupter or nonrestrictive clause that appears in the middle of the sentence, you can offset it with commas (I, too, love pizza). However, if too appears at the end of the sentence and means also or in addition, including the comma after too is up to you.

How do you use the Word Too in a Sentence?

Too Sentence Examples:

[/example]There is too much shouting and not enough problem solving.[/example]

too definition:(adverb) also; excessive; a higher degree than expected or permitted.

To Sentence Examples:

to definition:(preposition) a word that governs a noun or pronoun and conveys a relationship between another word or element in a clause.

Is it Love you too or to?

If someone tells you that they love you and you would like to say it back, the correct sentence to say is I love you too. This is because too(with two ‘o’s) means also in this complete sentence. However, the phrase I love you might be part of a longer sentence instead of a complete sentence in itself. For example, in the phrase I love youtothe moon and back, you should use to (with one ‘o’). The reason is because the word is part of a longer sentence where to acts as a preposition or infinitive verb.

Is it to Fast or too Fast?

If you’re talking about excessive velocity or speeds, the correct phrase is too fast. In this way, too(two ‘Os’) is an adverb that refers to an excessive amount (of speed). However, if you’re talking about the act of fasting or abstaining from eating, then the correct phrase would be the to fast. In this case, to (one ‘O’) is helping to create the infinitive verb to fast. The third option is Fast is the name of a place. In this case, the to would be a preposition that indicates a direction toward a place called Fast, and the correct phrase would be to Fast.

To vs. Too vs. Two: Test Your Skills

Read More: Whoever vs. Whomever: How to use Them Properly in a Sentence

/ / Uncategorized

What’s the Difference Between To, Too, and Two?

To, too, and two are all homophones, which means that they sound exactly the same but have different spellings and definitions.

The primary use of to is as a preposition that shows motion towards a point. In other words, it is the opposite of from. There are multiple other definitions that will appear in more detail below.

• The turtle and the rabbit raced to the finish line.

Too is an adverb that means also or overly.

• If my sister gets ice cream I should get ice cream too. It’s only fair.

Two is a noun or adjective that is the number between one and three.

• The soccer player scored two goals in the last minutes of the game.

Now, let’s go over a few ways to use these words in English.

Using To in a Sentence

When to use to: To is usually a preposition, but it can also be an adverb. It has many definitions. These include towards, until, and with intention.

To is also part of the verb in its infinitive form. There are many more uses that are similar to those already mentioned, or that are less common.

For example,

• The lioness moved to her prey. (first definition)
• The workers must work from noon to six o’clock. (second definition)
• He bought a gun to rob the store. (third definition)
• The dog likes to run. (fourth definition)

There are many idioms that use to:

• to a certain extent: somewhat
  • It’s true to a certain extent that the President embezzled, but he used the money to help the poor people of the country, which was part of his job.
• to and fro: from one place to another, often with a backwards and forwards movement
  • The man had drunk too much wine and he staggered to and fro along the sidewalk. .
• from time to time: occasionally
  • I don’t go dancing often, but I do dance from time to time.

There are many more in which to plays only a minor role in the overall meaning of the expression that aren’t included above.

Using Too in a Sentence

When to use too: Too is an adverb that describes something that is excessive. It can also mean also.

For example,

• I feel sick because I ate too much popcorn. (first definition)
• Don’t run too much on your bad knee or you’ll injure yourself. (first definition)
• I want some cake too! (second definition)

There are also many idioms and expressions that use too:

• not a moment too soon: right before it would be too late
  • Thank goodness the police got here before the man shot anyone! They arrived not a moment too soon.
• too many cooks in the kitchen: so many people working on a single project that they are unable to function well
  • Why do you have ten people working on this simple poster? You should have been done hours ago. This is a case of too many cooks in the kitchen. You two finish the poster and the rest of you go work on something else.
• too long; didn’t read: The text was too long so one didn’t read it
  • “Too long; didn’t read” is often abbreviated as tl;dr and introduces a short summary of the text for those who don’t want to read the whole thing.
• not too shabby: not bad
  • Is that a new dress? Not too shabby!
• to spread oneself too thin: to do more work than one can handle
  • You can’t work extra hours. You’re already working 60 hour weeks. You’ll spread yourself too thin.

Too has a negative connotation, so don’t use it when you want to express something positive. For example, I had so much fun at the party means you had a good time. I had too much fun at the party could imply you drank so much that you got sick, or did something else you regret.

Using Two in a Sentence

When to use two: Two can be an adjective or a noun. It refers to the number after one and before three.

For example,

• I have two cats. (adjective)
• One plus one equals two. (noun)

There are also many idioms and expressions that use two, some of which are below:

• to be eating for two: a pregnant woman is eating for herself and her fetus
  • Here, have some more food. You’re eating for two!
• to go number two: to defecate
  • Mommy, I have to go number two.
• two faced: duplicitous
  • She seems nice at first, but don’t trust her. She’s very two-faced.
• two peas in a pod: two people who are very similar
  • The best friends are like two peas in a pod. They do everything together, like the same things, and even look alike!
• the lesser of two evils: the better of two bad choices
  • I don’t like either of the candidates running for president, but I’ll vote for the incumbent because she’s the lesser of two evils.

In its written form, two can be spelled out or written as the symbol 2.

Remembering To vs. Too vs. Two

There are a few different ways to remember the distinctions between these three words.

Let’s start with how to remember the word to. Many prepositions, especially the most common, have only two letters. This includes in, on, at, of, and by.

Prepositions usually show how two elements of a sentence relate to one another, especially through time or location. If this is too hard to remember, you can also remember that to and towards share the same first two letters, and have the same meaning in many contexts.

To remember the word too, think of its two closest synonyms: also and overly. When placed side by side, also overly, you can see the double oo like in the word too.

Finally, it can help to think of the word twenty to remember that there is a w in both the numbers twenty and two. Alternatively, you could remember that two is spelled with w, which is pronounced as double u, and double means 2.

Outside Examples

• Once the sun begins to reappear, the AAO says to immediately return the glasses to watch the remaining phase of the eclipse. –Chicago Tribune
• Things were great until a few months later, when snow began to fall and no one wanted to stop for music. So she took her act to a Times Square subway platform. –New York Post
• “We definitely have to win,” Jones said. “It’s just too big of a deficit with three races to go. I think the pressure is on, but we’ve been handling the pressure really well.” –USA Today
• “God’s Problem Child” is too finely made — and often too funny — to suggest that Nelson has finally run out of steam. –LA Times
• Joshua Wong, the face of huge street demonstrations in 2014 for freer elections of Hong Kong’s leader, was sentenced to six months in prison. Two fellow protest leaders, Nathan Law and Alex Chow, were given eight and seven months, respectively. –New York Times
• Tucker and his wife Heidi had been been married for one year, but had not yet been on their honeymoon. So the California couple set out on a two-week trip to Europe to celebrate their marriage.–LA Times

Quiz: Too vs. To vs. Two

Instructions: Fill in the blank with the correct word, too or to or two, in the correct form.

• I need _______ guitars because I need an electric one and an acoustic one.
• I’m going _____ travel to China next year!
• I have _______ many books. I’ll never be able to pack all of them for the move.

See answers below.

Article Summary

Should I use to, too, or two? These words have similar spellings and the same pronunciation. However, there is no overlap between their definitions.

• To has many meanings but usually is a preposition meaning towards or until, or part of an infinitive verb.
• Too can mean either also or describe an excessive amount of something.
• Two refers to the number after one.

Make sure you know which of the three words has which meaning.

Answers

• two
• to
• too

When it comes to learning English, just because a word is short doesn’t mean it’s easy to use, pronounce, or understand. If you’ve ever had trouble with the words “to” and “too”, you know exactly what I mean. Sometimes, learning shorter words can be much more difficult than you expect because it’s so easy to mix up similar words. Plus, “to” and “too” are almost spelt the same, which makes it even harder to understand the difference. Though, you might feel better to know that even native English speakers can mix them up.

If you’ve been struggling to use these words while speaking or writing English, these tips can help.

What’s the difference between to and too in English?

So, why are “to” and “too” different words? At first, it can seem pretty confusing. This is because these words are homophones (like there, their and they’re). That means they have the same pronunciation, but different spellings and meanings.

The word “to” is only spelt with one ‘o’ and is a preposition that shows direction or location in a sentence. For example, “I’m going to the book store.” Think of it as a replacement for words like “toward” or “until”.

On the other hand, the word “too” is spelt with an extra ‘o’ and is an adverb. It’s used to mean “also” or “very”. For example, “I like ice cream, too.”

• Learn English with these top online games

How to use “to” in a sentence

You know that “to” is a preposition, but that doesn’t mean you know when you should use it in a sentence. One reason English language learners have so much trouble with the word is that it’s used quite frequently and can mean a few different things.

For instance, you can use “to” to provide information about where someone or something is going. “Jack is going to work.”

The word “to” can also be used in place of “until”, especially when you want to talk about time. For instance, “The class is from two o’clock to three.”

You’ll also use the word “to” when you use verbs in the infinitive form. For example, “I like to have coffee in the mornings.”

• Get a laugh with these top 10 English jokes

How to use “too” in a sentence

When you first see the word “too”, it’s easy to mistake the word as a misspelt “to”. Once, you realize it’s a completely different word, you might start to worry.

Luckily, the word “too” has fewer uses. When using it to mean “also”, you’ll likely see it at the end of a sentence and separated by a comma.  For example, “I’d like a glass of water, too.”

You can also use “too” as a way to say “very” or “excessively”. For instance, “It’s too noisy inside that restaurant.”

You’re also more likely to come across the word “too” in informal speech as well as in a few expressions. For instance, if someone says they had “too much fun” at a party, it likely means that they had a lot to drink or did something they might regret.

• The best way to Learn English  

How to remember which one to use

Even if you remember what a word means, it can often be confusing if you come across it in a complex sentence or get confused while trying to speak or write.

There are a few tricks you can use if you want to check whether you should be using “to” or “too”.

First, you can try replacing the word with “also” or “excessively” and see if the sentence still makes sense. If you can still understand the meaning of the sentence with these words, you would use “too” in the sentence. If not, you might need to use “to”.

These TWO words sound the same. They look almost identical. Although, do they mean the same things? If you are still debating when to use to vs too, read this guide that explains how, step-by-step.

To vs. too: what’s the difference?

To, too, and two are all homophones, which are words that sound the same (or are pronounced the same) though they have different meanings and spellings. 

Of course, two spelled this way refers to the number or quantity of having ‘two’ of something. This spelling (two) should be easiest to know when to use, just think: am I referring to the number, or something else? 

If it’s not the number, (the number that follows one, to be specific), then use the preposition to (or too, though the more common use is the former, as in the preposition).

To and too are two (see what I did there?) of the most commonly misused words in the English language ever. While they share almost the exact same spelling, other than the additional ‘o’, to and too are distinct words and mean different things in English.

Accordingly, and logically, they are used differently and in different contexts in writing. In conversation they sound the exact same, so verbally, it’s not a problem.

Word	Definition
To (preposition) /to͞o,tə/	expressing motion in the direction of (a particular location).
Two (number) /to͞o/	equivalent to the sum of one and one; one less than three; 2.
Too (adverb) /to͞o/	in addition; also.

The basic difference between to and too in parts of speech is:

• To is a preposition,
• Too is an adverb.

How to use to

The word to is a preposition. To better understand this tricky and extremely common preposition, (to), let’s go over what prepositions do in writing on a broader level.

Prepositions are basically the glue of a sentence. They are linking words that connect parts of sentences together, and are extremely versatile and flexible parts of speech. They can be placed in various parts of sentences, and can function as adverbs, verbs or adjectives when combined with a base verb or simple word to form an infinitive. 

As you’ll see from the list below, prepositions are perhaps the most frequently used words both in writing and everyday speech.

Take a look at each of the following words, which are all examples of prepositions: 

• in
• at
• on
• to
• over
• above
• below
• underneath
• beneath 
• by 
• next to 
• near 
• inside 

There are several types of prepositions, and each ‘type’ is organized by their function (in other words, what they do) in writing and communication, more generally. 

Prepositions of place, for example, which includes words such as in, on, inside, at, over, above, next, etc., are smaller words that refer to a place, or the location of something or object in a sentence or speech.

For example:

• They will meet in the lunchroom.
• She was waiting at the corner.
• He left his phone on the bed.
• Place the pen inside the drawer.

To does some serious heavy-lifting as one of the most popular prepositions in English. The word to functions as a preposition of time, movement or destination. To in its prepositional form helps express direction, motion or to specify a destination.

When using words that express motion or movement, the correct word choice is most likely the preposition to. Action words like walk, run, jog, drive, hike, bike, and so forth, regularly use ‘to’ to form the to-infinitive. 

See these sentences as examples:

• I am going to the store.
• She’ll be back later. She went to go for a run.
• She is going to school today.
• Are you going to McDonald’s?
• He has gone on vacation to France.
• She went to the bowling alley every Friday last summer.
• I will go to bed when I am tired.
• They will go to the zoo if they finish their errands.

To also directs or refers to the receiver of an action or verb in a sentence.

For example:

• She’s always writing letters to the local newspaper.
• She gave the keys to Sarah.
• I mailed the gift to my sister last Monday.
• I want to thank him for being so accommodating to my many requests.
• I’ll explain to you where everything goes.
• I am deeply grateful to my parents.
• Who did she address the letter to?

Example sentences from OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

More examples:

To can be used to indicate a relationship between people, or places and things: 

• She’s married to an Italian.
• The Japanese ambassador to France
• The key to the door
• The solution to this problem

To is used to describe when someone has been affected by something or someone else, for example:

• She is loyal to her dog.
• What have you done to your face?

To can be used to refer to a set time period, or a range between two things:

• Her train arrives at quarter to five.
• It’s ten to six. We’d better leave now or we’ll be late.
• I’d say he was 25 to 30 years old
• I like all types of music from funk to reggae.

To also forms part of the to-infinitive. To-infinitives are verb phrases or infinitive phrases that are made up of a base form of a verb, and a particle, such as to. When to is combined with a base verb, it forms an infinitive, or specifically a to-infinitive. It is now part of the verb, and can participate in sentences as such.

When the preposition ‘to’ combines with a base verb, the preposition gains superpowers through osmosis and can now perform functions in grammar such as a noun, adverb, or adjective. This is why it’s so adaptive and versatile as a word in English writing and language.  

Sometimes to is placed after adjectives that describe or give information about a person’s behavior, or express thought or feelings: 

• I cannot bear people being cruel to animals.
• Be kind to her. You’re so nasty to her!
• Many individuals have been loyal to the Conservative Party all their lives.

To may also be used after nouns (though this often occurs with prepositions of direction or destination.) See the following:

• The ferry to Santander takes 12 hours.
• Is this the bus to the stadium?
• The door to the main office was open.
• Is this the way to the airport?

Example sentences are from Dictionary.com | Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com

As we have seen, To is an endlessly versatile preposition. It can also be placed after a verb, such as in the following sentences: 

• We listened to that CD you lent us. It’s great.
• I object to your remarks.
• The bank hasn’t replied to my letter yet.

Take a look at the following examples of to-infinitives used in sentences: 

• My parents will be happy to meet you.
• Dolly wanted to buy that green dress.
• The child wanted a toy to play with. 
• “To laugh is to live profoundly.” (Milan Kundera, The Book of Laughter and Forgetting, 1979)
• “I’m honored to be the first woman to have the opportunity to command the shuttle.” (U.S. Air Force Colonel Eileen Collins, July 1999)

See in the above sentences, each verb is in its base or simplest form, ‘meet,’ ‘buy,’ ‘play,’ and so forth; and can be modified or changed by adding a suffix; or a different ending to the stem word. 

This is an easy way to identify the base form of a word (for the most part!) 

Broadly speaking, the to-infinitive, and infinitives in general follow the noun or object of a sentence.

How to use too

Too is an adverb that helps describe or modify other adverbs and adjectives in a sentence or clause. The adverb too has a few distinct meanings, or senses in which it can be used in speech or writing. 

One understanding of too is similar to the meaning of words like also, or additionally, or as well. 

A second definition of the word too is understood as, “to a higher degree than is desirable, permissible, or possible; excessively.” (from dictionary.com)

See the following sentences that use the adverb too:

• Is she coming too?
• He’s far too young to go on his own.
• She was much too big to be carried.
• This is too large a helping for me/This helping is too large for me.
• Is it too much to ask for a little quiet?
• The dress was too tight for me.
• It’s too late to do anything about it now.

Example sentences are from OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Origin of the word “to”

The first known use of the word to was before the 12th century. To derives from the Old English, meaning “in the direction of, for the purpose of, furthermore.” To derives from the Germanic languages. 

In Review

Two is a number, to is a preposition, and too is an adverb. 

They’re all different words that mean different things. Don’t mix them up!

Glossary

1. Definition of to
2. Definition of too
3. Definition of preposition

Sources

1. Linking words
2. Homophones
3. “Too.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Accessed 2 Oct. 2022.
4. Origin of to
5. To definition