Question

He is too weak to walk. This sentence can also be expressed as

• A. He is weak so that he cannot walk
• B. He is so weak that he cannot walk
• C. He is too weak that he cannot walk
• D. He is very weak to walk

Answer 1

Answer:

B. He is so weak that he cannot walk

• The sentence construction 'too + adjective + to + infinitive' is a common idiomatic structure in English, often used to express a negative consequence or inability due to an extreme degree of a quality.
• In this case, 'too weak' implies an excess of weakness.
• The phrase 'to walk' indicates the action that is impossible because of this excessive weakness.
• The alternative construction 'so + adjective + that + clause' serves a similar purpose, conveying the same meaning of cause and effect or degree and consequence.
• 'So weak' indicates the degree of weakness.
• The subordinate clause 'that he cannot walk' explicitly states the result or inability stemming from that weakness.
• This transformation tests the understanding of parallel structures and the nuanced ways of expressing a degree of something leading to an inability.
• In competitive exams, such questions often appear in sections testing grammar, sentence transformation, or error spotting.
• Recognizing these equivalent structures is crucial for accurate comprehension and effective writing.
• Pay attention to the shift in conjunctions and verb forms (infinitive vs. finite verb in the clause) when converting between these structures.
• For instance, 'too' is typically followed by an infinitive, while 'so...that' is followed by a clause that often contains a negative modal verb (like 'cannot', 'could not', 'will not', etc.) or implies negation.