[Grammar] Too

[Will17]

Hello,

Is this sentence correct: "There is a too large crowd outside around the house for me to go out. "

Thanks
W

 

[corum]

No, I do not think your sentence is fine.

The position of 'too' is not okay.

There is a too large crowd outside, around the house. :tick:
There is a too large crowd outside, around the house, for me to go out. :cross:

Try this:
There is a crowd outside, around the house, (which is) too large for me to go out.

 

[tedtmc]

outside, around the house?
I think 'outside' is redundant.

or you can say
The crowd around the house is too large for me to go out.

 

[corum]

outside, around the house?
I think 'outside' is redundant.

No, it is fine. Reduced place adverbial apposition. I agree, however, that by removing 'outside', meaning remains practically intact.

 

[corum]

I am trying to come up with a reasonable explanation for the grammar.

for me to go out = tenseless clause functioning as an adjective complement; it defines in what respect is the crowd too large --> the complement that completes the meaning of 'too large', an adjective (hence the name 'adjective complement'), is adverbial in function.

(too) large (for me) to go out :tick:
(too large) place (for me) to go out :cross:

Adjective complements do not complement noun phrases. In 'adjective complement', 'adjective' refers to the fact that an adjective is being complemented.

 

[bhaisahab]

Hello,

Is this sentence correct: "There is a too large crowd outside around the house for me to go out. "

Thanks
W

"...too large/big a crowd outside..." is correct.

 

[Will17]

"...too large/big a crowd outside..." is correct.

Thank you bhaisahab. It's still not very clear to (or for?) me. Can we say a too large crowd /a too big crowd, or do we have to say too large a crowd, too big a crowd?

Thanks

 

[bhaisahab]

Thank you bhaisahab. It's still not very clear to (or for?) me. Can we say a too large crowd /a too big crowd, or do we have to say too large a crowd, too big a crowd?

Thanks

"Too large a crowd/too big a crowd."

 

[Will17]

What's the right preposition?

It's not clear TO me?
It's not clear FOR me?

Thanks

 

[bhaisahab]

What's the right preposition?

It's not clear TO me?
It's not clear FOR me?

Thanks

Usually we would say "not clear to me".

 

[BobK]

"Too large a crowd/too big a crowd."

Exactly. I don't know what corum had in mind, suggesting that 'a too large crowd' was acceptable. Perhaps he has difficulty reading the rules; after all, they're written in English. :-|

b