Common mistakes
To, too, or two: direction, also, or the number?
Do you need two seats? Can your friend come too?
The spellings show different meanings, even when the sounds match. Start with the quick rule or work through the examples and listening practice.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
to, too, or two TOO-TOO-or-TOO
The short answer
To can mark a place or an action; two means 2. Too means also or more than you need or want.
I went to a small cafe, but two cakes were too much.
Why it works: To marks the place, two counts cakes, and too much shows an unwanted amount.
3 more examples
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Leaving the house
I'm going to the post office now.
Here to shows movement toward a place.
Not this:I'm going
toothe post office now. What changes: Too cannot mark the destination in this sentence. -
Joining a group
I'm coming with you too.
At the end of a sentence, too often means also.
Not this:I'm coming with you
to. What changes: To cannot add the meaning also here. -
At the cinema
She's bought two tickets for us.
Two is the number between one and three.
Not this:She's bought
totickets for us. What changes: To does not give the number of tickets.
Quick check
Which sentence is correct when you want to join a friend?
Answer: I'd like to go to the park too.
Show the answer
Answer: I'd like to go to the park too.
To comes before go and the place; too means also.
Read the full guide
Your cafe message may say where you're going or how many drinks you want. Check the meaning as you write. Sound alone may not tell you the spelling.
Pick the right spelling
The problem: I mix up to and too when I write and spell both with one o.
Check what each word does in your sentence. A place needs one spelling; a number needs another. Use the chart to match the form to the meaning.
Use to when you send something to someone. It tells you who receives it.
Please send the photo to Ava.
Use too when you mean also or more than you want.
Can I come too?
-
Not this:
I'd like to join you to.Say: I'd like to join you too.
When you want to join someone, final too means also.
| Word | What it shows |
|---|---|
| to | To the park; to Ava; want to go |
| too | Also; more than you need or want |
| two | The count between one and three |
Your turn
Which word fits the gap in this sentence?
We're going ___ the shop for milk.
Answer: to
Show the answer
Answer: to
Here, to points to the place you are going.
Hear the quick weak sound
The problem: In films to disappears or sounds like tuh and I miss it.
You may notice to with a vowel like tuh. The strong form sounds like too and two, with the vowel in blue.
A full vowel does not require emphasis. Stress (extra emphasis) makes a word stand out. You do not need to emphasize too or two every time.
- Leo
Are you ready to leave?
- Mia
In two minutes. Are you coming too?
- Leo
I'd like to, but I must finish this note first.
Your turn
Which word often has the short, weak vowel in this sentence?
I'd love to visit two cities too.
Answer: To before visit
Show the answer
Answer: To before visit
Unstressed to often has the vowel in tuh.
Too for limits and extra ideas
The problem: I use too as if it always means very, or add it to a negative reply.
Very hot tells you something has a lot of heat. Too hot adds a limit: it is hotter than you want for some purpose.
Tea can be too hot for you to drink now. Too does not always mean something harmful. The problem depends on what you want to do.
-
Not this:
I don't like cold coffee too.Say: I don't like cold coffee either.
To add a second negative idea, use either at the end.
Your turn
The soup is hotter than your friend can comfortably drink. Which sentence fits?
Answer: It's too hot.
Show the answer
Answer: It's too hot.
Too hot means hotter than is suitable for drinking here.
Pair too with adjectives correctly
The problem: I say too much sweet instead of too sweet.
You can put too before an adjective (a describing word), such as sweet. Too sweet means sweeter than you want. Do not put much between too and sweet.
-
Not this:
This tea is too much sweet.Say: This tea is too sweet.
Put too directly before sweet, without much between them.
When you name an amount of sugar, use too much sugar. For separate things you can count, such as spoons, use too many.
-
The shoes are too small for my feet.
Why it works: Small is a describing word, so too sits right before it.
-
He drives too fast on this road.
Why it works: Fast is an adverb (a word for how something happens). Too shows excess speed.
Your turn
Choose to, too, or two to fill the gap.
Answer: This coat's too big for me to wear.
Show the answer
Answer: too
Too big means bigger than is suitable for this person.
Before you go
Question 1 of 2
What does too mean here?
I'd like mangoes too.
Answer: It means also or as well
Show the answer
Answer: It means also or as well
Too adds another choice here. It means also.
Question 2 of 2 · One new sentence
Which sentence is written correctly for this cafe order?
Ordering drinks at a station cafe
Answer: We walked to the counter and asked for two cold drinks because the tea was too hot.
Show the answer
Answer: We walked to the counter and asked for two cold drinks because the tea was too hot.
Use to for the place and two for the count. Too hot shows excess.
Remember this
Use two for 2. Too means also or more than you want. To can show where you're going or come before a verb. Check meaning when you choose.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "To, too, or two: direction, also, or the number?"
Can I end a sentence with to?
Yes. After words such as want or hope, you can keep to without repeating an action already mentioned. This to does not mean also. If you want to add the meaning also, use too.
I haven't called Nora yet, but I plan to.
Should I use me too to agree with a negative statement?
Use me neither when you share the negative idea. Me too usually agrees with a positive statement. If you give a full negative reply, either can go at the end.
A: I don't watch horror films. B: Me neither.
I don't watch horror films either.
When should I use too much and too many?
Use too much before a noun for an amount you do not count as separate items. Use too many before a plural noun for things you can count. With an adjective, you often need only too.
There's too much salt in this sauce.
There are too many boxes in the hall.
The sauce is too salty for me.
Does too mean the same as very?
Very makes a description stronger. Too adds a limit: something is more than you need or want. A very heavy bag might still be one you can carry. A bag that is too heavy for you goes beyond that limit.
This bag is very heavy, but I can carry it.
This bag is too heavy for me to carry.
Do to, too, and two always sound the same?
They can sound the same. The strong form of to has the vowel in blue, like too and two. To often has a weak vowel like tuh in a sentence. You still need the meaning to choose a spelling. Too and two do not need extra emphasis every time.
I sent two photos to Amir.
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