Grammar 101: Two, Too and To
Grammar 101: Two, Too and To
Previously:
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/phil1944/blog/feeling-youre-...
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/phil1944/blog/grammar-101-it...
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/phil1944/blog/grammar-101-yo...
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/phil1944/blog/grammar-101-th...
A Few Simple Rules Are All You Need
There's no doubt that, in its entirety, English grammar is complex, especially for someone learning English as a second language.
But...
If you're a native English speaker and just want to avoid common grammatical errors in your writing (such as blog posts on your website) there are only a handful of rules that you need to memorize.
So this series of posts is for those who'd like to ditch the Grammarly crutch and just know what's right and what's not.
Here's the fourth one:
Two, Too and To
Let's dispense with "two" first. It's easy, it only has one meaning and most people are aware of it. "Two" is how you write the number "2". So, for example, "only two people have qualified for entry".
Simple. Just remember it.
The others are more difficult and a lot of people get them wrong.
Too
Let's start with "too". It's used less frequently than "to" and is used in a couple of specific ways:
1. As an alternative to "also" or "as well". For example, "I'm hungry... and thirsty too" is correct, because you could substitute: "I'm hungry, and thirsty as well".
2. As an emphasis, to indicate that something is very (or excessively) so. Some examples are "I can't go to work. I'm too sick", "It's all too much" and "You are too kind".
Here's an additional test. You can always emphasize "too" and it will still make sense, which is not the case for "to". "I'm hungry, and thirsty TOO", "You are TOO kind".
To
If you get "too" right, then you can use "to" for all other cases,
Its most common usages are:
1. To express direction, as in "We are going to the restaurant" or "Please go to the supermarket for me" or a little more subtly "Are you talking to me?"
2. As part of a verb. "To be or not to be" or "I want to go home".
Too and To
And finally, here's an example of both in the one sentence:
"Judy is coming to the party too". A useful model to remember.
Conclusion
It's not too (lol) difficult. Just remember "two" is "2", you can substitute "also" for "too" and use "to" for everything else.
I hope this has helped.
Recent Comments
65
Phil, I'm glad you are doing these...helpful to many who are struggling with writing in English, and also helping some of us who should already have these things down.
Maybe you have time for this one...demonstrate when it is properto use an apostrophe and when not. So many people put in an apostrophe when a simple plural is correct.
Thanks, Fran. I've covered the common misuse of "it's" and "its" but you're quite right, the curse of the random apostrophe strikes frequently.
Yet another exception to the rule! That's the English language. Full of exceptions to the rule!
Thanks, Phil!
All of these grammar things, there is always an exception to the rule. That's why there are so many different meanings for the same word.
Thanks, Phil!
Barbara
Then I hope your school days were happy ones, Diana. I'm trying to present simple, practical ways to achieve good grammar without relying on software.
I enjoyed those days, A lot of us do not realize the disadvantages of software/technology. It taking over our thinking
Indeed. Some people can't add two single-digit numbers together without using a calculator. As for multiplication...
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You're too much, Phil, at least two times more than I can keep up with, now, 2am. That's not quite true. It's only 8:30P where I am. But it's too true that I love your posts. To where I am going, that is anyone's guess. But I'll quit while I still can. LOL.
Always great to hear from you, Donna.