it's too bad about Tom

[navi tasan]

1) It's too bad about Tom.

Someone says that sentence after hearing some sad news about Tom.

I find the sentence a bit strange, but I think it is pretty common.

I am not sure I can understand it's exact meaning. Is it a comment in sympathy with Tom, or does it express unhappiness about the news.

The road is closed today.
It's too bad about the road.

Does the second sentence make sense here?

Could one have another adjective in place of 'bad' or is this an idiomatic expression that works only with 'bad'?
And would the sentence work without 'too'?

Would it be possible to have examples?

 

[Tarheel]

If I say, "It's too bad about Tom", I am saying I feel sorry for Tom.

**its exact meaning

You can't feel sorry for a road. (Well, I can't. ) Perhaps: "It's too bad the road is closed. We'll have to go the long way."

I don't think "It's too bad about Tom" can be used with other adjectives. (I could be wrong.)

 

[5jj]

1) It's too bad about Tom.

The speaker is expressing some form of regret about Tom. It could be that they are sorry that Tom has died/is ill/cannot meke it to some function/etc. We can't be sure without context.

It's too bad about the road.

Does the second sentence make sense here?

It does.

Could one have another adjective in place of 'bad'

Not after 'too'.

And would the sentence work without 'too'?

No.

 

[Tarheel]

It's too bad Tom couldn't come.

That's the "function" sentence I would use.

 

[Skrej]

1) It's too bad about Tom.

Someone says that sentence after hearing some sad news about Tom.

I find the sentence a bit strange, but I think it is pretty common.

It's quite common and there's nothing particularly strange or unusual about it.

I am not sure I can understand it's exact meaning. Is it a comment in sympathy with Tom, or does it express unhappiness about the news?

In this case, it's both. (Note you should have ended your question with a question mark.)

The road is closed today.
It's too bad about the road.

Does the second sentence make sense here?

Yes. You'll also hear this same expression with 'that's' instead of 'it's'.

Could one have another adjective in place of 'bad' or is this an idiomatic expression that works only with 'bad'?
And would the sentence work without 'too'?

Would it be possible to have examples?

No, as already mentioned. Consider it a set expression used to express sympathy or shared distress about a situation, not a grammatical structure. Note that it can also be used sarcastically though, as a way of mocking the person or situation involved.

Take your example of the closed road. I could say "Oh, that's too bad about the road. Now I'll just have to stay home from work and enjoy a day off!"

I might or might not actually be unable to get to work, but it's a sarcastic way of suggesting maybe the closed road isn't such a bad thing.