Good evening, and happy Mistake Monday! In our previous post we mentioned a good reference for advanced English learners, so now let's take a look at a mistake that students of all levels sometimes make: confusing the words "too," "so," and "very."
I especially notice this problem with my students who speak Spanish, and sometimes they make this mistake even when they're in advanced classes. Here are some tips:
I especially notice this problem with my students who speak Spanish, and sometimes they make this mistake even when they're in advanced classes. Here are some tips:
| Common Error: Confusing "too," "so," and "very" | ||
| DON’T say this: | She likes pizza too much. | |
| WHY? | -All three of these words can add emphasis, but we use them differently in English and Spanish. -"Too" expresses a large degree, but it also generally indicates that something is excessive and not possible: "The T-shirt was too big for me. I had to get a different one." OR: "It was too dark to see who committed the crime." -The words "so" and "very" also express a large degree, but they're used differently than "too": -Use "very" to intensify: "It's very hot in Panama today." OR: "It was very nice of her to help the sick puppy." -Use "so" if you want to show cause and effect, and usually include the word "that": "He ate so many chicken wings that he got sick." OR: "Jane made Mark so mad that he left the meeting." | |
| INSTEAD, SAY THIS: | -"She is very beautiful." -"She likes pizza very much." -(OR, more commonly: "She likes pizza a lot.") -"She was so hungry that she ate a whole pizza by herself!" -"She is now too poor to go to the movies. She spent all her money on pizza." | |
That's it for today. If you have questions or comments related to this common error or the blog in general, please leave a comment or contact us. Thanks for reading!
