① too…to通常表示否定,意為“太……而不”。
The boat is too small to hold so many people. 這船太小,容納不下這么多人。
He got up too late to catch the train. 他起得晚了,沒趕上火車。
② 但在下面幾種情況下,too…to則表示肯定意義,意為“求之不得,非常愿意”。
(1)當too前有just,only,but,all,simply 等詞時,表示肯定意義。
I'm only too glad to go with you. 我非常高興同你一起去。(only too=very)
I'm all too willing to show you round the plant. 我非常樂意帶你參觀工廠。
The young man was just too pleased to lead the way. 那位年輕人非常樂意帶路。
(2)當too后有g(shù)lad,happy,pleased,ready,eager,anxious,willing,easy,satisfied,kind 等表示“情態(tài)、心態(tài)”的形容詞作表語時,表示肯定意義,意為“非?!薄?
He is too ready to help others. 他樂于助人。
They are too eager to go boating in the lake. 他們非常想去湖里劃船。
He is too anxious to know the result of the experiment. 他急切地想知道實驗的結(jié)果。
It is too kind of you to tell me that. 你告訴我那件事真是太好了。
提示
如果這種結(jié)構(gòu)中的不定式重復(fù)一次,則前者表示肯定,后者表示否定。
He is too happy to forgive others' faults to forgive his own. 他樂于對人寬對己嚴。
The man is too ready to criticize others to criticize himself. 那人總愛批評別人,不作自我批評。
(3)當too后有apt,inclined等表示“趨向、傾向”意義的形容詞作表語時,表示肯定意義。
He is too apt to make spelling mistakes. 他極易犯拼寫錯誤。
I'm too inclined to invest in stocks. 我非常傾向于投資股票。
(4)不定式在句中充當真正主語時,too…to結(jié)構(gòu)表示肯定意義。
It's too kind of you to tell me the news. 你告訴我那件事真是太好了。
It's too clever of you to refuse her. 你拒絕她真是太明智了。