The phrases to and too are simply confused in English as a result of they sound alike.

Whether or not in informal dialog and even in essays and on-line posts, this occurs quite a bit.

Understanding the distinction between to and too is necessary as a result of they’re each quite common phrases in English. 

This put up will assist you to know the distinction between these two phrases, plus when to make use of them. You’ll additionally study a couple of suggestions that can assist you follow!

Let’s get began. 

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The Distinction Between To and Too 

These two phrases perform in a different way as a result of to is a preposition and too is an adverb. 

• To can be utilized in a whole lot of other ways. As a preposition can present a route in addition to point out ranges of time or quantities. It may well even be a part of phrasal verbs (“get again to you”) or infinitives (“to start”).
• Too solely has two major meanings: both “additionally” (“me too!”) or “excessively” (“too spicy”).

To and too, when pronounced correctly, sound precisely the identical.

And typically they will additionally get blended up with two, which is at all times a quantity (the one which comes after one and earlier than three!) You utilize it to point the amount of one thing. For instance: “I’ve two apples.” 

Right here’s a extra detailed have a look at the variations between to and too: 

Makes use of of To

1. Preposition

As we talked about, to is a preposition that exhibits a relationship between phrases. Let’s have a look at some examples of how it may be used.

To indicate route or motion in the direction of one thing. You additionally use to to point a spot of arrival. 

Examples:

I’m going to the restaurant proper now.

She’s driving to the park this afternoon.

Go to the varsity web site.

To indicate ranges of time or quantities. You should use it whenever you need to say that it’ll take you ten to fifteen minutes to complete one thing you’re engaged on. You additionally use to when indicating a time frame. 

Examples:

The trip shall be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The judges thought that 40 to 50 p.c of the truffles had been scrumptious.

There are a whole lot of little variations in how to is used, however often its which means is said to motion or area between issues. 

2. A part of a phrasal verb

Typically to is a part of a phrasal verb, corresponding to in “look as much as” or “get again to.”

We all know that verbs are phrases that point out actions. However phrasal verbs are verbs which can be used collectively and have a special which means than the identical phrases by themselves. 

Right here’s an instance:

I’m sorry that I forgot about our plans. I’ll make it as much as you.

“To make it as much as somebody” is a phrasal verb meaning to do one thing good to account for (stability out) one thing unhealthy that you just did.

Discover that the phrase to nonetheless carries a few of the similar which means as within the sections above. If I say, “I’ll make it as much as you,” the phrase to exhibits a sort of motion or gesture between I and you.

Right here’s one other instance:

Sorry, this can be a unhealthy time! Can I get again to you?

You would possibly say this to somebody whereas speaking on the cellphone. Right here, once more, you possibly can see there’s a sort of motion once I say that I will get again to you. “Getting again” is one thing that I’ll do in your route.

For the reason that preposition to is so frequent, you’ll discover many extra methods to make use of it. However if you happen to perceive the final which means of the phrase to, you’ll acknowledge it even in numerous contexts.

3. A part of an infinitive

An infinitive is the unconjugated, base type of a verb. In English, infinitive verbs begin with the preposition to adopted by the principle verb. Listed below are some examples:

• To present
• To dance
• To research

Moreover being the unconjugated type of a verb, infinitives will also be utilized in sentences. Infinitive verbs are sometimes paired with conjugated verbs:

I need to point out you one thing.

On this sentence, the primary verb “need” is conjugated for the primary particular person singular, or “I.” Subsequent is the infinitive “to point out,” which isn’t conjugated. This expresses that displaying you one thing is what I need.

There are a whole lot of examples of the phrase to in Tracy Chapman’s “Quick Automotive“:

It’s a music that expresses a whole lot of concepts about motion and route and likewise makes use of infinitives:

I need a ticket to wherever (motion in the direction of a spot)

Managed to avoid wasting just a bit bit of cash (infinitive following a conjugated verb)

We received’t have to drive too far 

This final instance makes use of the expression “to should [do something],” which implies an motion that’s required or must occur.

You’ll be able to see that it additionally incorporates a phrase too, which we’ll have a look at subsequent.

Makes use of of Too

Fortunately, it’s approach simpler to acknowledge too than to. Too doesn’t have practically as many meanings.

1. Which means “additionally”

One of the frequent meanings of too is “additionally” or “moreover.”

Listed below are some examples:

I need to present you my new tattoo too.

Are they coming too?

She’s carrying her crimson T-shirt too.

It’s tremendous straightforward to identify when to make use of too when it means “moreover.” You simply have to assume if you should utilize the phrase “additionally” in any of the above sentences.

For instance, you may say, “Are in addition they coming?”

However the good factor about too is that it often falls on the finish of sentences, making it simpler to make use of and spot.

2. Which means “extreme” 

If used earlier than an adjective or adverb in a sentence, it’s expressing the concept of “an excessive amount of.”

Listed below are some examples:

Do your mates assume you’re too loud?

While you’re at events, do you discuss too a lot?

Particularly whenever you drink too many cocktails?

Has anybody ever instructed you that you just, your self, are simply an excessive amount of?

If my automotive is “too quick,” it has an excessive amount of pace. If the within of my automotive is “too scorching,” it has an excessive amount of warmth.

If the Tracy Chapman music says we don’t should drive “too far,” meaning we don’t should cowl a whole lot of distance.

In case your good friend tells you you’re “an excessive amount of,” that is only a approach of claiming that one thing about you is, nicely, quite a bit (it’s often mentioned in a joking method).

Normally, when somebody says this, they’re pretending to be irritated with you as a approach of displaying that they really such as you.

The music “No person” by Mitski has a great instance of each makes use of of too collectively:

At the start of the music, she sings:

Venus, planet of affection
Was destroyed by world warming
Did its folks need an excessive amount of too?
Did its folks need an excessive amount of?

The second too within the third line has the which means of “additionally.” So the sentence means: did its folks need quite a bit additionally.

This music additionally incorporates a number of examples of to, making it good for working towards each phrases.

To and Too in Informal Speech

Okay, so now that you already know the principle variations between to and too, it’s necessary to learn to say them accurately.

In “appropriate” English, to is pronounced with an “ooh” sound: to

Nevertheless, this isn’t at all times adopted when folks say it out loud, as we’re about to see.

Gonna (going to), wanna (need to), oughta (should)

When verbs are mixed with to, the to typically will get misplaced in pronunciation.

In informal dialog, many English audio system don’t truly say “going to,” however “gonna,” and so they don’t say “need to,” however “wanna.”

There are a whole lot of examples of this in songs, corresponding to in “I Need to Know What Love Is“: 

Though “need to” is within the title, it actually sounds extra like “wanna” within the music. The music additionally incorporates examples of “gotta” (obtained to) and “gonna” (going to).

As you get used to listening to phrases like “gonna,” you’ll study to know them straight away. 

To pronounced as “tuh”

One other approach the pronunciation of to modifications is when it’s pronounced like “tuh,” corresponding to “need to” sounding extra like “wan-tuh.”

Different instances, to is simply pronounced a bit lazily, so it falls someplace between “to” and “tuh,” and the vowel sound isn’t utterly clear.

You’ll be able to hear this in Mitski’s pronunciation in “No person,” when she sings, “I simply need to really feel all proper”:

On this instance, you possibly can hear the to in “need to,” nevertheless it sounds flatter. The “o” sound in to goes by sooner and is much less clear.

That is fairly typical of how a whole lot of English audio system say these phrases, and understanding this might assist you perceive which one you’re listening to.

Nevertheless, this doesn’t often occur the opposite approach round. Whereas it may happen with some accents, English audio system don’t change the pronunciation of too that a lot.

It’s nearly at all times mentioned with a transparent “ooh” vowel sound: too

Attempt listening to 0:28 of the music video, when Mitski sings “Did its folks need too a lot.” You’ll discover that too is pronounced with an extended and clearer “ooh” sound.

Assets for Mastering To and Too

Now that you already know the variations between to and too, listed here are a couple of assets that can assist you follow these necessary little English phrases.

• To, too or two train at englisch-hilfen.de. It is a simple on-line worksheet with solutions that helps you follow when to make use of to or too. It additionally consists of the phrase two so you possibly can follow telling aside all three phrases.
• FluentU’s English studying program. This offers you entry to numerous genuine video content material, in addition to useful interactive captions that allow you to click on on any phrase (like to or too) to seek out out extra about it. You’ll be able to then see the identical phrase utilized in extra movies.

  You may also add phrases to personalised vocabulary lists and flashcard units, and check your mastery of them with personalised quizzes.

• Track lyrics. Since to and too are each actually frequent phrases, you’ll hear them in songs on a regular basis. For extra music examples, you possibly can try this record of songs with prepositions (together with to). While you hearken to a music, attempt to discover phrases that sound like to or too, then follow determining which one it’s.

 

At this stage you’re in all probability a professional at explaining the distinction between these two phrases. 

Now all you must do is follow!

Obtain:
This weblog put up is accessible as a handy and moveable PDF that you just
can take wherever.
Click on right here to get a duplicate. (Obtain)