AEE 2330: Too or Really? Avoid this Common English Grammar Mistake

Summary

All Ears English Podcast - Episode 2330: "Too or Really? Avoid this Common English Grammar Mistake"

Release Date: December 30, 2024
Hosts: Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan
Title: Too or Really? Avoid this Common English Grammar Mistake

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Episode Overview

In Episode 2330 of the All Ears English Podcast, hosts Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan delve into a prevalent English grammar pitfall: the incorrect usage of "too" and "really." Aimed at intermediate to advanced ESL learners, this episode provides comprehensive insights, practical examples, and alternative expressions to enhance listeners' fluency and confidence in American English.

Understanding the "Too" vs "Really" Mistake

The episode kicks off with Luo McMahon introducing the core topic: distinguishing between "too" and "really" to avoid confusion in communication.

Lindsay (02:48):
"It's To use the word 'too' about something that you can't have too much of or you can't be too much of. So if something's very positive, like excitement, fun, we wouldn't use 'too' this way. Instead, we'd say 'really' or 'extremely' or maybe 'super.' Right. Or the message becomes unclear."

This clarification sets the stage for understanding when to appropriately use each term to convey the intended intensity of an emotion or situation.

Examples and Clarifications

To illustrate the common mistake, the hosts present clear examples that highlight the potential for misunderstanding.

Lindsay (03:18):
"I was too passionate about math, so I studied applied mathematics in school. So when you say 'I was too passionate,' I expect to hear something negative. Like 'I was too tired to study, so I went to bed.'"

Michelle (03:32):
"I was too bored with math, so I didn't study science."

These examples demonstrate how using "too" with inherently positive feelings like passion can lead to confusion, as "too" often implies an excess that has negative consequences.

Alternative Expressions to "Too"

To provide ESL learners with better alternatives, Lindsay and Michelle explore various synonyms that can replace "too" when expressing positive sentiments.

Michelle (05:05):
"I'm too confused by these instructions. I'm just gonna go to YouTube and Google how to do this exactly right."

Lindsay (05:28):
"Super excited," "extremely excited," or "really excited" are more appropriate when conveying positive emotions without implying excess."

The hosts emphasize the importance of tone and context, suggesting that words like "super," "crazy," and "extremely" can effectively convey enthusiasm without the unintended negative connotation that "too" might introduce.

Idiomatic Chunks with "Too"

Beyond individual word usage, the episode explores idiomatic expressions where "too" is appropriately used to express praise or enthusiasm.

Lindsay (10:02):
"Too good, too cool, too fun, and too funny are the ones I hear the most."

These phrases are commonly used at the end of conversations to commend or express admiration, serving as informal yet impactful affirmations.

Practical Role Plays

To cement understanding, Lindsay and Michelle engage in mini role plays that exemplify proper usage of "too" and its alternatives.

Role Play 1:
Lindsay shares a story about a trip to Disneyland.

Lindsay (10:38):
"We took our kids to Disneyland last week."
Michelle (10:49):
"Too fun."
Lindsay (10:52):
"It's another way of saying awesome or that sounds awesome."

Role Play 2:
Michelle narrates an incident where someone fell in front of her.

Michelle (11:42):
"So then he fell right in front of me."
Lindsay (11:50):
"Too funny."

These scenarios illustrate how "too" can be used idiomatically to express positive reactions and maintain the flow of conversation without awkward silences.

Concluding Insights

As the episode wraps up, Lindsay and Michelle reinforce the key takeaways for listeners:

Lindsay (13:34):
"Whenever we notice these mistakes, we want to point them out. So you guys, most of our students, my friends that say this, they don't realize they're doing it until I point it out. It's such a subtle thing, really."

Michelle (13:20):
"Don't overcomplicate it. It’s very simple."

The hosts encourage listeners to follow the podcast for more detailed lessons and subtle nuances, emphasizing that mastering such grammar intricacies is a step towards achieving C1 level fluency.

Key Takeaways

• Use "too" for Negative Excess: Reserve "too" for situations where something is excessive in a negative context, e.g., "too tired," "too bored."

• Opt for Alternatives with Positive Emotions: Replace "too" with words like "really," "extremely," "super," or "crazy" when expressing positive feelings, e.g., "super excited," "really fun."

• Idiomatic Expressions: Utilize phrases like "too good," "too cool," "too fun," and "too funny" to offer praise or express enthusiasm in conversations.

• Context Matters: Always consider the context and the nature of the emotion (positive or negative) when choosing between "too" and its alternatives to ensure clear and accurate communication.

By addressing a common grammatical error and providing practical solutions, this episode equips ESL learners with the tools to enhance their English proficiency and engage more naturally in conversations.

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Connect with All Ears English Podcast: For more episodes and resources, visit allearsenglish.com. Subscribe to stay updated and continue your journey towards fluent American English!

Transcript

[A]

This is an Allers English podcast, episode 2332. Or really avoid this common English grammar mistake.

[B]

Welcome to the All Ears English podcast, downloaded more than 200 million times. Are you feeling stuck with your English? We'll show you how to become fearless and fluent by focusing on connection, not perfection, with your American host, Aubrey Carter, the IELTS whiz, and Lindsey McMahon, the English adventurer, coming to you from Arizona and Colorado, usa. And to get your transcripts delivered by email every week, go to allearsenglish.com subscribe in today's episode, we point out a common mistake with the words to and really listen in to find out exactly how to fix this mistake Today.

[C]

This episode is brought to you by Google Gemini. With the Gemini app, you can talk live and have a real time conversation with an AI assistant. It's great for all kinds of things, like if you want to practice for an upcoming interview, ask for advice on things to do in a new city, or brainstorm creative ideas. And by the way, this script was actually read by Gemini. Download the Gemini app for iOS and Android today. Must be 18 + to use Gemini Live.

[B]

Hey there, Aubrey. How's it going today?

[A]

I'm great. Lindsay, are you too excited about recording today?

[B]

Oh, my gosh, Aubrey, can you ever be too excited to record? I mean, I'm always extremely excited to record, so.

[A]

Good point. Right? What I really should ask is, are you super excited to record today? Are you really excited? This is actually a common mistake that we see, right, Lindsay, we want to highlight today so that you guys can avoid it.

[B]

Yeah, because it was confusing, right? Your question confused me. You know, are you too excited? That feels like it should be a negative thing, right?

[A]

I can't be too excited.

[B]

Definitely not. So before we get into this topic today, I want to remind our listeners to hit that follow button right here on Allers English. Why should they follow Aubry?

[A]

Yes, we have amazing episodes every week. We talk about connection, not perfection, while we teach interesting vocabulary and strategies for improving followers fluency and confidence in English. So if you're not following, be sure to hit the follow button.

[B]

Exactly. We bring all of our episodes back to human connection, right? That's the way we do things differently here. So if that feels good to you, go ahead and hit the follow button, guys. All right, so what is the common mistake that we're seeing Aubry with our students and when we read writing in our community sometimes, what are we seeing? The mistake. What is the mistake?

[A]

And it's very, very common. Like you pointed out, Lindsay, it's To use the word to about something that you can' have too much of or you can't be too much of. So if something's very positive, like excitement, fun, we wouldn't use to this way. Instead we'd say really or extremely or maybe super. Right. Or the message becomes unclear. Like you said, Lindsay, really unclear.

[B]

So, for example, here's an example of a very confusing. A mistake that leads to confusion for who hears it.

[A]

Right.

[B]

I was too passionate about math, so I studied applied mathematics in school. So when you say I was 2, I expect to hear something negative. Like I was too tired to study, so I went to bed.

[A]

Exactly. That's where we do use two to mean really something negative. I was too bored with math, so I didn't study science. Right, right, right.

[B]

But then the person said, you know, I was too passionate about math, so I studied applied mathematics. It just becomes very confusing for a native speaker. So we're going to fix this today.

[A]

So instead there you would say, I was really passionate about math or I was extremely passionate about math, so I studied applied math at Matics. Right. We can't use to there. So two is an adverb that means something is more than what is needed, good, or possible. But English plays tricks on you. English is really confusing. So we're really going to break this down today to show you, because there are some chunks where we do use two that way.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And we. I know. Right. So we're going to give you everything you need to know. Be sure to stay until the end.

[B]

All right, Sounds good. So let's give some more examples. Aubry, do we have any more examples of, you know, mistakes that we hear?

[A]

Well, so these. So we want to talk a little bit about. To make sure you do understand when you can use two.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like Lindsay said, when it's something negative. I was too tired. Maybe you'd say, I'm too confused by these instructions.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

We do use two to mean very or really. But only for negative things that you can be too much of.

[B]

Yeah. And usually with two, there's some kind of result. Like I'm. I'm too confused by the instructions. I'm just gonna go to YouTube and Google how to do this exactly right. It's like you're so confused that you're gonna change course and do something different.

[A]

Exactly. Or you might say, like, I got a bit too angry when that happened Again. You're just saying there was too much of this. There was too much of the anger, so I had to. I regret. Regret it. Right. I'm acknowledging a fault.

[B]

Exactly. Right. But we don't use it for positive things that there can't be too much of, like being too excited for recording. It doesn't really make sense.

[A]

Exactly. And so instead, really very extremely. Or there are lots of other fun options. So we're first going to share a few. First of all, informal options. We'll often say super. He was super passionate about literature. So he studied comparative literature.

[B]

Yeah. And this word is still trending, right? It's been trending, I feel like, for the last five years or so. And it feels like it's.

[A]

Right. But it's really fun. It's very. It definitely shows how excited you are about something. It is much more. There's more emotion than just very or really to say I was super excited and you want to hit it. This is also going to change your intonation. You want to say it louder.

[B]

Yeah. You have to. You have to punch that. Right. Because it is your way of showing your enthusiasm. It's in that word, the way you deliver it.

[A]

It would be strange to be like, I was super passionate about that.

[B]

Right, Exactly.

[A]

I need to hear the passion in your voice.

[B]

Yeah. It's fun to watch words come and go. And I wonder when this one is going to be on its way out the door because it's been trendy for a while.

[A]

Aubry curious as well. I kind of hope it stays. I think it's so fun.

[B]

All right. And then crazy. This is interesting. It's very similar to super, but slightly less common. Right?

[A]

Yes. Also trendy. Right. Also a little kind of slang. Informal. They both mean extremely but much more informal. So maybe it was crazy late by the time we left. Means the same as it was extremely late but much more informal.

[B]

Yeah. I mean, if our listeners can add this to their vocabulary, it really brings. Brings things to life and shows what you're really, truly trying to say. Right?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And definitely replace two with these if you're talking about something positive. Right?

[B]

Yes. Okay. And then, Aubrey, what do we do for formal situations where we don't feel like crazy or super? Are quite.

[A]

Right, Right. Some of these informal ones. Crazy, super, or like, way way cool. Totally. Are not appropriate for every situation. Right. So you can always use extremely. We're extremely pleased to have you join us. You know, if this is a formal dinner, I would never say we're super pleased to have you join us. It'd be strange.

[B]

It'd be weird. It'd be weird. We need to have the right word for the context or Amazingly, they're amazingly good at staying organized. So these are slightly longer words, take a longer time to say, but yeah. Or in a business context, you wouldn't necessarily say, our numbers were crazy good last week. Unless you work for a small company like our.

[A]

Like, I could say small, but depending on the meeting, depending on how formal you're trying to be. Right. These two options are great. Extremely. Amazingly, you can also use just very and really. But those are a little more common and boring. So these are four options that, depending on the situation, are more fun. Yes.

[D]

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[B]

Okay, Aubrey, we are back. So tell us about chunks.

[A]

Yes. Okay, so the chunks we're about to teach you are really, I think what is tripping students up, Right? We have high level students that are using two incorrectly, and I think it's because of these chunks. Sometimes we use these specific chunks to express praise. Too good, too cool, too fun, and too funny are the ones I hear the most commonly. And we usually use them at the end of like a conversation or something that's been said to express praise. Have you. Have you heard these, Lindsay?

[B]

Yeah, of course. So it's really important to. To know. Yeah, we're really turning. Turning the episode now and moving to a totally different use where again, it is okay to use the two, but again, as Aubry said, it's placed in a different part of the conversation as kind of a commentary.

[A]

Exactly.

[B]

Like someone has described something that's happened. Oh, too cool, too fun.

[A]

Exactly. Right. A commentary. That's a good way to put it because this is a totally different meaning than where you're saying, like, I'm too excited about this. I'm too passionate. That's. It doesn't make sense. This is where it makes sense because you're saying that someone's story was awesome. It's kind of a way of saying awesome. Very cool.

[B]

Yeah, very cool. Exactly. So what are they again? What are these chunks that we hear? I'll break.

[A]

So too good, too cool, too fun and too funny. Those are the ones I use and hear the most.

[B]

Okay. Yeah. I hear Too Funny a lot. Right. I mean, I hear them all, but I think Too Funny is definitely the one. It feels most common to me. Yeah.

[A]

Yeah, I hear that the most. So we're going to do two mini role plays here where you can see how we use these to sort of express praise or to just say that something is awesome and just notice where.

[B]

These fall in the conversation.

[A]

Right.

[B]

So here we go.

[A]

I'll start us out. We took our kids to Disneyland last week.

[B]

Oh, wow. I bet that was awesome.

[A]

It was a really fun trip. We were there from open to close and even stayed for the fireworks.

[B]

Too fun. All right, so where did it fall?

[A]

Aubry at the end. Right. You're. It's another way of saying awesome or that sounds awesome. Right. You're sort of expressing praise just about the. The story in general. And so the meaning is not. You're not saying that's too fun to mean, like, there was too much fun had. It's idiomatic. It's an idiomatic chunk. That's not what it means.

[B]

Yeah. And, you know, we have other options, of course, for an episode for another day. How to. Other ways to express this. Right. You could say something like, I love that, or love that totally.

[A]

There are a lot of ways that we do this. Right. Oh, so cool. That sounds awesome. There are a million ways you could say this, but this is one of them that I think might be causing this problem for students where we're sort of making the. The use of two a little more complicated.

[B]

Okay, let's see it again, and we'll see how it falls at the end again. Here we go.

[A]

All right, you want to start us?

[B]

So then he fell right in front of me.

[A]

What? That's crazy.

[B]

I know. It was nuts.

[A]

Oh, man. Too funny.

[B]

Yeah. So you're commenting on my story, Right.

[A]

And what I really mean is that's really funny. But we'll use to be, like, too funny. It's weird. It's almost like sarcasm a little bit. It's interesting.

[B]

Yeah. I mean, you might be saying it's. It's too funny for me. It might still be the same meaning, like, it's too funny for me, you know?

[A]

Wow.

[B]

That's. So I can't handle. Almost too funny that I can't handle it. Right, Exactly. So it. But it's just a completely different use. Right. So we really want to separate part one and part two of this episode.

[A]

Yeah. We're sort of going into, like, how we do use two. The common mistake that we see and Then we wanted to share these chunks to make sure you see like if you're like. But I have heard two. Fun. Too good. Too cool. Why? That's confusing. Right. So now you can see these are sort of used as a response and they really just mean like that's awesome or that's really fun.

[B]

Yeah. Don't over complicate it. Right. That it's very simple. Or you can come up with other things like we said, I love that. Or amazing. Awesome.

[A]

Cool.

[B]

There's so much we could say. The important thing is to say something we don't want to just have the person stop and there's no response on the other end.

[A]

Right, Exactly. Right. We do need something. It creates awkwardness or discomfort. If it's just silence, they finish this. Oh, I know. It was nuts. Silence. You know, this is one of the things we say to just fill the silence. To say like, oh, cool story.

[B]

Right. Michelle and I did an episode on crickets and that would be a great use of this.

[A]

Cricket. Totally. Right. We don't want crickets. So there are lots of things that we can say after someone has shared something fun or interesting or funny. And these chunks are one of the things that we say.

[B]

You got it. I mean, I think that is the takeaway. Is there anything else we need our listeners to know today?

[A]

I don't think so. I mean, other than hit follow. Because whenever we notice these mistakes, we want to point them out. So you guys, most of our students, my friends that say this, they don't realize they're doing it until I point it out. Right. It's such a subtle thing, really. Moving up into C1 level of fluency.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So be sure to hit follow to get these details.

[B]

All right, Sounds great. Aubry. I'll see you on the next episode. Have a good day.

[A]

You too. Bye.

[B]

Bye. Thanks for listening to Allears English. Would you like to know your English level? Take our two minute quiz, go to allearsenglish.com fluency score. And if you believe in connection, not perfection, then hit subscribe now to make sure you don't miss anything. See you next time.