English Grammar: The Difference between ‘So’ & ‘Too’

Hello everyone,

Today, we’re going to talk about two really important words in English: “so” and “too”.

These words might seem easy, but they can be hard to use right.

But don’t worry!

After reading this, you’ll be really good at using “so” and “too” in your everyday English.

Let’s get started!

What are “so” and “too”?

Before we jump into how to use these words, let’s understand what they are:

“So” is a versatile word that can be used in many ways. It can be an adverb, a conjunction, or even an adjective. In general, we use “so” to talk about the extent or degree of something, or to connect ideas.

“Too” is mainly used as an adverb. It usually means “also” or “in addition”. We also use it to say that something is more than what is wanted or needed.

Both “so” and “too” help us express ideas more clearly and connect our thoughts. They’re like the seasoning in your language soup – a little goes a long way in adding flavor to your sentences!

How to use “so”

Let’s look at the different ways we can use “so”:

a) As an adverb of degree:

When we use “so” as an adverb, it means “to this extent” or “this much”. It shows how much of something there is.

Examples:

• The movie was so good! (It was very good)
• I’m so tired today. (I’m very tired)
• He ran so fast in the race. (He ran very fast)

b) As a conjunction to show result:

“So” can connect two ideas, where the second idea is the result of the first.

Examples:

• It was raining, so we stayed home. (We stayed home because it was raining)
• She studied hard, so she passed the exam. (She passed because she studied hard)
• The store was closed, so I couldn’t buy milk. (I couldn’t buy milk because the store was closed)

c) To mean “therefore” or “for that reason”:

This is similar to showing result, but it’s used more formally.

Examples:

• The evidence is clear. So, we can conclude that the theory is correct.
• All flights are cancelled due to the storm. So, we’ll have to postpone our trip.

d) To ask for more information:

We can use “so” at the beginning of a question to ask for more details about something previously mentioned.

Examples:

• “I got a new job.” “So, when do you start?”
• “We’re moving to Canada.” “So, which city will you be living in?”

e) To mean “in order that”:

Sometimes, “so” is used to talk about purpose or intention.

Examples:

• I’ll speak slowly so you can understand me better.
• We left early so we wouldn’t miss the train.

f) In phrases like “so far” and “so long”:

“So” is part of several common expressions in English.

Examples:

• So far, everything is going well with the project.
• It’s been so long since we last met!

That’s a lot of ways to use “so”!

More grammar topics:

• Understanding the Second Conditional Sentence: A Guide
• Important English Grammar Rules
• The Importance of English Grammar
• What Are Irregular Verbs? A Simple Explanation
• Modal Verbs – Meaning, Usage & Examples

How to use “too”

Now that we’ve covered “so”, let’s dive into “too”. This word might seem simpler, but it has its own special uses and rules.

Here’s how to use “too” correctly:

a) To mean “also” or “in addition”:

This is the most common use of “too”. We use it to add information or include something or someone else.

Examples:

• I like pizza, and I like pasta too.
• John is coming to the party, and Mary is coming too.
• Not only can she sing, but she can dance too.

Note: “Too” usually comes at the end of the sentence or clause when used this way.

b) To show excess or more than desired:

We use “too” to say that something is more than what is wanted, needed, or acceptable.

Examples:

• The coffee is too hot to drink right now.
• This shirt is too small for me.
• We arrived too late and missed the beginning of the movie.

In these cases, “too” often comes before an adjective or adverb.

c) In the expression “too much” or “too many”:

This is a specific way to show excess, used with countable and uncountable nouns.

Examples:

• There’s too much sugar in this cake. (uncountable noun)
• I have too many books to carry. (countable noun)
• She spends too much time watching TV. (uncountable noun)

d) In agreements:

We can use “too” to agree with a positive statement.

Examples:

• “I love chocolate.” “Me too!”
• “I’m excited about the concert.” “I am too!”

e) With “only”:

Sometimes “too” is used with “only” to emphasize that something is not enough or not satisfactory.

Examples:

• The dress was beautiful, but all too expensive.
• His explanation was all too brief.

f) In the phrase “too… to”:

This structure is used to show that because of an excess of something, another action isn’t possible.

Examples:

• I’m too tired to go out tonight.
• The box is too heavy to lift.
• She’s too young to watch that scary movie.

g) In informal speech, for emphasis:

Sometimes, people use “too” informally to emphasize a positive quality.

Examples:

• That’s too funny! (meaning it’s very funny)
• You’re too kind! (meaning you’re very kind)

Remember, this use is very informal and shouldn’t be used in formal writing or speech.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Now that we’ve covered how to use “so” and “too”, let’s look at some common mistakes people make with these words and how to avoid them:

a) Confusing “so” and “too” when talking about excess:

Incorrect: The music is so loud that I can’t hear myself think.

Correct: The music is too loud for me to hear myself think.

Remember, when talking about excess, use “too”, not “so”.

b) Putting “too” in the wrong place when meaning “also”:

Incorrect: Too I like ice cream.

Correct: I like ice cream too.

When “too” means “also”, it usually goes at the end of the sentence or clause.

c) Using “so” instead of “very” with adjectives that don’t change degree:

Incorrect: She is so pregnant.

Correct: She is very pregnant. (Or simply: She is pregnant.)

Some adjectives, like “pregnant”, don’t have degrees. You either are or aren’t pregnant. Use “very” or no intensifier at all with these.

d) Overusing “so” at the beginning of sentences:

While it’s not strictly incorrect, starting too many sentences with “So…” can sound repetitive and informal. Try to vary your sentence beginnings.

e) Using “too” with comparatives:

Incorrect: This book is too better than the other one.

Correct: This book is much better than the other one.

We don’t use “too” with comparative forms. Use “much”, “far”, or “a lot” instead.

f) Forgetting to use “to” after “too” when describing inability:

Incorrect: I’m too tired go to the party.

Correct: I’m too tired to go to the party.

Remember the structure “too… to” when describing how an excess prevents an action.

By being aware of these common mistakes, you can improve your use of “so” and “too” and sound more natural in your English.

Practice Exercises

Now that we’ve learned all about “so” and “too”, let’s put our knowledge to the test with some exercises.

Try these out and check your answers at the end!

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with either “so” or “too”

1. The movie was _____ long that I fell asleep.
2. I love that song, and my sister does _____.
3. We arrived _____ late to catch the bus.
4. It’s raining, _____ we’ll have to cancel the picnic.
5. The water is _____ cold for swimming.
6. She speaks _____ fast that I can’t understand her.
7. I’m _____ excited about the concert!
8. He’s _____ young to drive a car.
9. The food was delicious, and the service was great _____.
10. It’s _____ hot today. Let’s stay inside.

Exercise 2: Correct the mistakes in these sentences

1. The coffee is so hot to drink.
2. I’m very tired to go out tonight.
3. She sings good, and she dances good too.
4. The music was very loud that we couldn’t talk.
5. Too I enjoy reading books.
6. He is so smart to fail the test.
7. The cake is too more delicious than I expected.
8. It’s raining, too we can’t go to the park.
9. This puzzle is so difficult to solve.
10. She too likes chocolate ice cream.

Exercise 3: Complete the sentences using “so” or “too” and your own ideas

1. The movie was so _________________.
2. I’m too tired to _________________.
3. It was raining, so _________________.
4. The food was too spicy for _________________.
5. She studied hard, so _________________.
6. The music is too loud to _________________.
7. I love pizza, and I love pasta _________________.
8. The box is so heavy that _________________.
9. We arrived too late to _________________.
10. The dog was so excited that _________________.

Exercise 4: Choose the correct word (so/too) to complete these dialogues

1. A: “I can’t lift this box.” B: “Is it _____ heavy?”
2. A: “I love this song!” B: “Me _____!”
3. A: “We need to leave now.” B: “_____, what time is our flight?”
4. A: “I’m not going to the party.” B: “Why not?” A: “I’m _____ busy with work.”
5. A: “The concert was amazing!” B: “It really was! The music was _____ good!”

Answers:

Exercise 1:

1. so, 2. too, 3. too, 4. so, 5. too, 6. so, 7. so, 8. too, 9. too, 10. so

Exercise 2:

1. The coffee is too hot to drink.
2. I’m too tired to go out tonight.
3. She sings well, and she dances well too.
4. The music was so loud that we couldn’t talk.
5. I enjoy reading books too.
6. He is too smart to fail the test.
7. The cake is much more delicious than I expected.
8. It’s raining, so we can’t go to the park.
9. This puzzle is too difficult to solve.
10. She likes chocolate ice cream too.

Exercise 3: (Answers will vary, but should use “so” or “too” correctly)

Exercise 4:

1. too, 2. too, 3. So, 4. too, 5. so

Remember, the key to mastering these words is to use them often in your everyday English.

The more you practice, the more natural they’ll become.

Conclusion:

You’ve made it through our deep dive into the world of “so” and “too”.

Let’s recap what we’ve learned:

1. “So” can be used to show degree, result, or purpose, and in various expressions.
2. “Too” mainly means “also” or shows excess.
3. Both words have specific places they usually appear in sentences.
4. There are common mistakes to watch out for, like confusing “so” and “too” when talking about excess.

Remember, language learning is a journey. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – they’re a natural part of the process.

Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be using “so” and “too” like a native speaker!