1) He presented me with a too expensive gift.
2) The too expensive gift was really appreciated.
3) He presented me with a too generous gift.
4) The too generous gift was really appreciated.
Are these sentences correct?
Maybe a hyphen between 'too' and the word following it would make them better?
Gratefully,
Navi
too expensive
Moderator: Alan
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Alan
- Teacher/Moderator
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Re: too expensive
No, not in standard English.
With the exception of 'too much/many/little/few' , a [too + ADJ] phrase cannot normally directly pre-modify a noun.
Possible constructions are (e.g.)
This is too expensive a gift. (BrE)
or
This is too expensive OF a gift. (AmE)
Note therefore that only a countable singular noun accompanied by an indirect article can be used in this way. There is no possibility of saying e.g.
*This is too tasteless furniture.
or
*These are too tall people.
In most such cases, the only viable option is to rephrase via a relative clause, with the too-phrase as complement.
E.g.
*I bought a too expensive gift. --> I bought a gift that was too expensive.
With the exception of 'too much/many/little/few' , a [too + ADJ] phrase cannot normally directly pre-modify a noun.
Possible constructions are (e.g.)
This is too expensive a gift. (BrE)
or
This is too expensive OF a gift. (AmE)
Note therefore that only a countable singular noun accompanied by an indirect article can be used in this way. There is no possibility of saying e.g.
*This is too tasteless furniture.
or
*These are too tall people.
In most such cases, the only viable option is to rephrase via a relative clause, with the too-phrase as complement.
E.g.
*I bought a too expensive gift. --> I bought a gift that was too expensive.