With to vs too, when do you use “to” and when do you use “too”? In this blog post, we’ll go over the difference between to and too, and when it’s appropriate to use each. Stay tuned!
What is To vs Too?
To” is a preposition, which means it shows the relationship between two nouns or pronouns. For example: “I gave the ball to Tim.” In this sentence, “to” shows the relationship between the ball and Tim. It’s telling us who got the ball.
“Too” has two different meanings. It can be used as an adverb, which means it modifies verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. For example: “He ran too fast for me to catch him.” In this sentence, “too” modifies “ran.” It’s telling us how fast he ran.
“Too” can also be used as a conjunction, which means it joins two clauses together. For example: “I wanted to go to the park, but it was too cold outside.” In this sentence, “too” joins the two clauses “I wanted to go to the park” and “it was too cold outside.”
When Do You Use To vs Too?
English is a funny language. Sometimes, small changes can make a big difference. Take the words “to” and “too,” for example. They look pretty similar, but they actually have very different meanings. So when do you use each one?
“To” is used:
- As a preposition to show the relationship between two nouns or pronouns
- Before a verb to show the purpose of the verb
- After an adjective to create a comparison
For example:
- I gave the ball to Tim. (preposition)
- I need to go to the store. (verb)
- He’s taller than me. (adjective)
“Too” can be used:
- As an adverb to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs
- As conjunction to join two clauses together
For example:
- He ran too fast for me to catch him. (adverb)
- This soup is too salty. (adverb)
- I’m too tired to go out tonight. (conjunction)
Remember, “to” is a preposition, and “too” is an adverb or conjunction. If you can substitute the word “also” for “too,” then you should use the word “too.” If you can’t substitute “also” for “too,” then you should use the word “to.”
Here are some examples of when to use each word:
- The flowers were delivered to her house. (to)
- She wanted to go to the store. (to)
- I’m going to the store too. (too)
- Are you coming with us too? (too)
- He’s taller than me. (to)
- This soup is too salty. (too)
- I’m too tired to go out tonight. (too)
As you can see, making this small distinction can help you to communicate more clearly. So next time you’re not sure whether to use “to” or “too,” just think about what you’re trying to say. If you’re indicating movement or direction, “to” is probably the right word. But if you’re modifying another word, then “too” is probably what you want.
How to Use To vs Too Correctly
To is a preposition. It indicates direction, location, or time. Too is an adverb that modifies an adjective or another adverb. It indicates excessiveness. Here are some examples to help you remember the difference:
- I’m going to the store. (direction)
- I’m too tired to go to the store. (excessiveness)
- That rock is too big to throw. (modifies the adjective “big”)
- He’s driving too fast to be safe. (modifies the adverb “fast”)
Remember, if you can substitute “also” for “too,” you’ve probably used the wrong word:
- Would you like fries also? No, I don’t want fries, either. correct
- Are you coming, also? No, I’m not coming, either. correct
- Would you like fries, too? Yes, I would like fries, too! correct
- Are you coming, too? Yes, I am coming, too! correct
When in doubt, use “to.” You can never go wrong with a preposition. Now that you know how to use to vs too, go out and use them correctly!
Examples of Correct Usage of To vs Too
To is a preposition with several definitions, including “toward” and “until.” Too is an adverb that means “also” or “excessively.” Here are a few examples of correct usage:
- We’re going to the store. (toward)
- I have to work late tonight. (until)
- We ate too much food. (also/excessively)
Remember, too is never a noun or a verb. If you can substitute the word “also” into the sentence, then you’re probably using too correctly.
- For example, The soup was too hot. (also)
However, if you can substitute the word “very,” then you want to use to instead: The soup was very hot. When in doubt, try using the word “too” in place of “to” and see if it makes sense. If not, then you know you need to use to instead.
Here are a few more examples:
- We’re going too fast. (also)
- We’re going to fast. (noun meaning “abstain from food”)
- I have to read this book. (verb meaning “must”)
- I have too many books to read. (also)
As you can see, to vs too are both extremely versatile words, but they’re not interchangeable. Be sure to use them correctly in your writing!
Are There Any Other Words That are Similar to To vs Too ?
There are a few words that are similar to To vs too. Two is a word that means the same as too. It can be used as an adjective or adverb. There are also a few other words that have a similar meaning. As well, too, and also can all be used to mean likewise or in addition. However, these words have different connotations. For example, As well can imply that what follows is just as good or important, whereas too often implies that something is excessive.
Too can also be used to mean very when it’s used before an adjective or adverb. For example, “I’m way too tired to keep going.” In this sentence, too means very and serves to emphasize the fatigue that the speaker is feeling. Lastly, there’s the phrase “To boot.” This is typically used to mean in addition or additionally. It’s often seen in the phrase “To boot, he was late.”
In this case, To boot is emphasizing that the lateness was unexpected or unnecessary. As you can see, there are a few different words that have a similar meaning to To vs too. However, each word has its own connotation and usage rules that you should be aware of before using it in your own writing.
Conclusion
To summarize, “to” is a preposition that is used to indicate direction or purpose, while “too” is an adverb that means “also.” It can be used to emphasize or add emphasis to a statement. Hopefully this article has helped clear up any confusion between these two words and you are now able to use them correctly in your own writing.
FAQs
What is the difference between to vs too?
Too is used as an adverb to mean “in addition to” or “also.” For example, “I have a cat and a dog, too.” To is used as a preposition to mean “toward” or “in the direction of.” For example, “He walked to the store.
When do you use to and when do you use too?
To is used when you are referring to a specific destination or goal. For example, “I’m going to the store.” Too can be used in a number of different ways, but is typically used when you are providing excess information. For example, “I, too, am excited for the party.”
Can you give me an example of to vs too in a sentence?
Yes. “I’m going to the store” is an example of to in a sentence. I’m excited for the party, too” is an example of too in a sentence.
What other words can I use instead of to vs too?
If you’re looking for a word to replace to, some options include “toward,” “in the direction of,” and “onto.” If you’re looking for a word to replace too, some options include “also,” “in addition to,” and “as well.”
Do you have any tips for remembering when to use to and when to use too?
One way to remember when to use to is to think about the word’s literal meaning of “toward” or “in the direction of.” This can help you remember to use to when you are referring to a specific destination. As for too, one way to remember when to use it is to think about its meaning of “in addition to” or “also.” This can help you remember to use too when you are providing excess information.
