very vs too

[Nathan Mckane]

Which boy is shorter?

The boy in white is very short.
The boy in black is too short.

tnx

 

[SoothingDave]

Not a teacher.

We can't say which is shorter. "Short" is one thing, "very short" is even more so.

But "Too short" does not exist unless you are saying what he is "too short" for.

"He is too short to play basketball well." "He is too short to reach the cookie jar."

But not just "He is too short."

 

[philadelphia]

Which boy is shorter?

The boy in white is very short.
The boy in black is too short.

tnx

*Not a teacher

None, without more context.
The first sentence is a statement. The boy in white is very short - that is all.
The second sentence refers to something else or need to be linked to something else. The boy in black is too short to reach the glass above the cupboard.

 

[BobK]

:up: Or, of course, 'The boy in black is short too'. But that still doesn't tell us which is shorter.;-)

b

 

[Atchan]

Very and too come in front of adjcetives.
Very and too do not have the same meaning.

very: it is difficult but possible to do......
too: it is impossible to do.......

In the speaker's mind, the use of too implies a negative result.