To vs. Too — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 26, 2023
"To" is a preposition or part of an infinitive verb, while "Too" means "also" or indicates excess. They have distinct grammatical roles and meanings.
Difference Between To and Too
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Key Differences
English, in all its richness, occasionally presents words that sound identical but have different meanings, such as "To" and "Too." "To" primarily serves as a preposition, connecting nouns and pronouns. For instance, "I went to the store" uses "To" to indicate direction. This word also plays a role in infinitive verb forms like "to read" or "to dance."
On the other hand, "Too" carries a different weight. This adverb often means "also" or "in addition." For example, "I like that song too" implies agreement or shared sentiment. Another common usage is to indicate an excessive degree. In the sentence "It's too hot outside," "Too" underscores an extremity.
"To" and "Too" may sound the same, but their functions in sentences diverge greatly. Where "To" establishes relationships, direction, or purpose, "Too" steps in to denote an added element or emphasize excessiveness. Their auditory similarity can be misleading, but understanding their distinct roles clarifies their usage.
In the journey of mastering English, distinguishing between "To" and "Too" is vital. While both are small in size, they pack significant grammatical punch. One connects ideas and sets direction, and the other adds nuance or emphasis.
Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Preposition/Infinitive Marker
Adverb
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Meaning
Direction, Purpose
Also, Excessive
Example
"I went to the park."
"She was tired too."
Usage in Excess
Doesn't indicate excess
Indicates excess (e.g., "too much")
Association with Others
Doesn't mean "also"
Can mean "also"
Compare with Definitions
To
Expressing motion in a direction.
He traveled to Spain last year.
Too
Used to mean "also" or "in addition."
She's coming to the party too.
To
Indicating contact or a point of limit.
He attached the string to the balloon.
Too
Expressing more than what is desirable.
You're driving too fast.
To
Used with the base form of a verb (infinitive).
She wants to sing.
Too
To a higher degree than is desirable, permissible, or possible; excessively
He wore suits that seemed a size too small for him
He was driving too fast
To
Expressing motion in the direction of (a particular location)
We're going to a party
Walking down to the shops
My first visit to Africa
Too
In addition; also
Is he coming too?
To
Approaching or reaching (a particular condition)
Christopher's expression changed from amazement to joy
She was close to tears
Too
In addition; also
He's coming along too.
To
Identifying the person or thing affected by or receiving something
You were terribly unkind to her
They donated £400 to the hospice
I am deeply grateful to my parents
Too
More than enough; excessively
She worries too much.
To
Identifying a particular relationship between one person and another
He's economic adviser to the president
He is married to his cousin Emma
Too
To a regrettable degree
My error was all too apparent.
To
Indicating that two things are attached or linked
They are inextricably linked to this island
He had left his dog tied to a drainpipe
Too
Very; extremely; immensely
He's only too willing to be of service.
To
Concerning or likely to concern (something)
A threat to world peace
A reference to Psalm 22:18
Too
(Informal) Indeed; so
You will too do it!.
To
Used to introduce the second element in a comparison
The club's nothing to what it once was
Too
(focus) Likewise.
To
Placed before a debit entry in accounting.
Too
(conjunctive) Also; in addition.
To
So as to be closed or nearly closed
He pulled the door to behind him
Too
(degree) To an excessive degree; over; more than enough.
To
In a direction toward so as to reach
Went to the city.
Too
To a high degree, very.
She doesn't talk too much.
I'm not too sure about this.
To
Towards
Turned to me.
Too
Used to contradict a negative assertion.
"You're not old enough yet." ― "I am, too!"
To
Reaching as far as
The ocean water was clear all the way to the bottom.
Too
Used for emphasis, without reference to any previous statement.
To
To the extent or degree of
Loved him to distraction.
Too
Over; more than enough; - noting excess; as, a thing is too long, too short, or too wide; too high; too many; too much.
His will, too strong to bend, too proud to learn.
To
With the resultant condition of
Nursed her back to health.
Too
Likewise; also; in addition.
An honest courtier, yet a patriot too.
Let those eyes that viewThe daring crime, behold the vengeance too.
O that this too too solid flesh would melt.
Such is not Charles his too too active age.
To
Toward a given state
Helping minority women to economic equality.
Too
To an excessive degree;
Too big
To
In contact with; against
Their faces pressed to the windows.
Too
In addition;
He has a Mercedes, too
To
In front of
Stood face to face.
Too
Indicating agreement or shared sentiment.
I love pizza too.
To
Used to indicate appropriation or possession
Looked for the top to the jar.
Too
Signifying an excessive degree.
The soup is too salty.
To
Concerning; regarding
Waiting for an answer to my letter.
Too
Signifying more than is necessary.
He has too many toys.
To
In a particular relationship with
The brook runs parallel to the road.
To
As an accompaniment or a complement of
Danced to the tune.
To
Composing; constituting
Two cups to a pint.
To
In accord with
Job responsibilities suited to her abilities.
To
As compared with
A book superior to his others.
To
Before
The time is ten to five.
To
Up till; until
Worked from nine to five.
To
For the purpose of
Went out to lunch.
To
In honor of
A toast to the queen.
To
Used before a verb to indicate the infinitive
I'd like to go.
To
Used alone when the infinitive is understood
Go if you want to.
To
Used to indicate the relationship of a verb with its complement
Refer to a dictionary.
Refer me to a dictionary.
To
Used with a reflexive pronoun to indicate exclusivity or separateness
Had the plane to ourselves.
To
In one direction; toward a person or thing
Owls with feathers wrong end to.
To
Into a shut or closed position
Pushed the door to.
To
Into a state of consciousness
The patient came to.
To
Into a state of action or attentiveness
Sat down for lunch and fell to.
To
(Nautical) Into the wind.
To
Indicating destination: In the direction of, so as to arrive at.
We are walking to the shop.
To
Used to indicate the target or recipient of an action.
I gave the book to him.
I spoke to him earlier.
He devoted himself to education.
They drank to his health.
To
Used to indicate result of action.
His face was beaten to a pulp.
To
Used to indicate a resulting feeling or emotion.
To everyone's great relief, the tuneless carol singers finally ceased their warbling.
To
Used after an adjective to indicate its application.
Similar to ..., relevant to ..., pertinent to ..., I was nice to him, he was cruel to her, I am used to walking.
To
Denotes the end of a range.
It takes 2 to 4 weeks to process typical applications.
To
As a.
With God to friend (with God as a friend);
With The Devil to fiend (with the Devil as a foe);
Lambs slaughtered to lake (lambs slaughtered as a sacrifice);
Took her to wife (took her as a wife);
Was sold to slave (was sold as a slave).
To
Used to indicate a ratio or comparison; compared to, as against.
One to one = 1:1
Ten to one = 10:1.
I have ten dollars to your four.
To
(arithmetic) Used to indicate that the preceding term is to be raised to the power of the following value; indicates exponentiation.
Three squared or three to the second power is nine.
Three to the power of two is nine.
Three to the second is nine.
To
(time) Preceding the next hour.
What's the time? – It's quarter to four in the afternoon (or 3:45 pm).
To
(informal) Often used without the hour
It’s quarter to (3:45, or 4:45, or whatever time ending in 45 would make the most sense)
To
Used to describe what something consists of or contains.
Anyone could do this job; there's nothing to it.
There's a lot of sense to what he says.
The name has a nice ring to it.
To
According to
Our holiday did not go to plan.
To
At.
Stay where you're to and I'll come find you, b'y.
Where are you to?
To
(regionalism) Toward a closed, touching or engaging position.
Please push the door to.
To
(nautical) Into the wind.
To
The preposition to primarily indicates approach and arrival, motion made in the direction of a place or thing and attaining it, access; and also, motion or tendency without arrival; movement toward; - opposed to from.
Stay with us, go not to Wittenberg.
So to the sylvan lodgeThey came, that like Pomona's arbor smiled.
I'll to him again, . . . He'll tell me all his purpose.She stretched her arms to heaven.
To
Hence, it indicates motion, course, or tendency toward a time, a state or condition, an aim, or anything capable of being regarded as a limit to a tendency, movement, or action; as, he is going to a trade; he is rising to wealth and honor.
To
In a very general way, and with innumerable varieties of application, to connects transitive verbs with their remoter or indirect object, and adjectives, nouns, and neuter or passive verbs with a following noun which limits their action. Its sphere verges upon that of for, but it contains less the idea of design or appropriation; as, these remarks were addressed to a large audience; let us keep this seat to ourselves; a substance sweet to the taste; an event painful to the mind; duty to God and to our parents; a dislike to spirituous liquor.
Marks and points out each man of us to slaughter.
Whilst they, distilledAlmost to jelly with the act of fear,Stand dumb and speak not to him.
Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
I have a king's oath to the contrary.
Numbers were crowded to death.
Fate and the dooming gods are deaf to tears.
Go, buckle to the law.
To
As sign of the infinitive, to had originally the use of last defined, governing the infinitive as a verbal noun, and connecting it as indirect object with a preceding verb or adjective; thus, ready to go, i.e., ready unto going; good to eat, i.e., good for eating; I do my utmost to lead my life pleasantly. But it has come to be the almost constant prefix to the infinitive, even in situations where it has no prepositional meaning, as where the infinitive is direct object or subject; thus, I love to learn, i.e., I love learning; to die for one's country is noble, i.e., the dying for one's country. Where the infinitive denotes the design or purpose, good usage formerly allowed the prefixing of for to the to; as, what went ye out for see? (Matt. xi. 8).
Then longen folk to go on pilgrimages,And palmers for to seeken strange stranders.
To
In many phrases, and in connection with many other words, to has a pregnant meaning, or is used elliptically.
We ready are to try our fortunesTo the last man.
Few of the Esquimaux can count to ten.
To
Effect; end; consequence; as, the prince was flattered to his ruin; he engaged in a war to his cost; violent factions exist to the prejudice of the state.
Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face.
To
Accord; adaptation; as, an occupation to his taste; she has a husband to her mind.
He to God's image, she to his was made.
To
Comparison; as, three is to nine as nine is to twenty-seven; it is ten to one that you will offend him.
All that they did was piety to this.
To
Addition; union; accumulation.
Wisdom he has, and to his wisdom, courage.
To
Accompaniment; as, she sang to his guitar; they danced to the music of a piano.
Anon they moveIn perfect phalanx to the Dorian moodOf flutes and soft recorders.
To
Character; condition of being; purpose subserved or office filled.
Made his masters and others . . . to consider him to a little wonder.
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow;Creeps in this petty pace from day to day.
There was great showing both to and fro.
To
A preposition indicating direction.
She went to the library.
To
Indicating a relationship between words.
He's married to my cousin.
Common Curiosities
Can "Too" be used to indicate agreement?
Yes, "Too" can mean "also" as in "I think so too."
Is "Too" always about excessiveness?
Often, but not always. It can also mean "in addition."
Is "To" always a preposition?
Mostly, but it's also used as part of an infinitive verb.
How do I know when to use "To" or "Too"?
Context is key. "To" indicates direction or purpose, "Too" means also or excess.
Is "Too" used at the end of sentences?
Often, especially when it means "also." E.g., "I'm hungry too."
Can "To" show a range?
Yes, like in "Monday to Friday."
Are "To" and "Too" interchangeable?
No, they have different meanings and grammatical functions.
Is "Too" the same as "Two"?
No, "Too" is an adverb, while "Two" is the number 2.
Can "To" be used with verbs?
Yes, with the base form of verbs, like "to go" or "to eat."
Can "To" indicate a relationship?
Yes, like in "attached to" or "married to."
How can I remember the difference?
Think of the extra "o" in "Too" as indicating addition or excess.
Does "Too" always require a comparison?
No, it can simply mean "also" without comparing.
Are "To" and "Too" both adverbs?
No, "To" is mainly a preposition, while "Too" is an adverb.
Can "To" indicate a purpose?
Yes, like in "to learn" or "to help."
Is "Too" formal or informal?
It's neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
