[Grammar] He's too/ so old to drink.

[wotcha]

1. He is too old to drink.

2. He is so old to drink.



I wonder if sentence 2 is grammatical.

 

[emsr2d2]

1. He is too old to drink.

2. He is so old to drink.



I wonder if sentence 2 is grammatical.

#2 is unnatural. #1 is illogical. It's possible to be too young to drink (legally) but as far as I know no country has a legal policy on people not being allowed to drink after a certain age.

 

[SoothingDave]

Maybe it's not talking about the law, but just general health.

 

[emsr2d2]

I still think that's illogical. I don't think you're ever too old to drink alcohol!

 

[5jj]

I don't think you're ever too old to drink alcohol!

I shinsherely hope not. :drinking:

 

[Amigos4]

Maybe it's not talking about the law, but just general health.

I agree with Soothing Dave. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/11/why-getting-old-means-drinking-less/?_r=0

 

[emsr2d2]

I agree that the older you get, probably the less you should drink and alcohol has more/different effects on you. However, I still don't think even doctors would say "You are too old to drink at all​" which is what the original sentence implied.

 

[5jj]

I agree that the older you get, probably the less you should drink

Balderdash
Poppycock
Claptrap
Hogwash
Baloney
Humbug
Drivel
Sphericals
etc

Not an abstainer

 

[5jj]

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/11/why-getting-old-means-drinking-less/?_r=0

The site you linked us to contains such absurdities as:

The National Institutes of Health site says that people over 65 shouldn’t consume more than seven drinks in a week, and that they should have no more than three drinks on a given day.

The writers of that clearly have serious problems with the English language. The first underlined word should read 'morning', and the second 'hour'. Even with these corrections, the NIH people are a little draconian in their advice.

 

[SoothingDave]

The site you linked us to contains such absurities as:

The National Institutes of Health site says that people over 65 shouldn’t consume more than seven drinks in a week, and that they should have no more than three drinks on a given day.

The writers of that clearly have serious problems with the English language. The first underlined word should read 'morning', and the second 'hour'. Even with these corrections, the NIH people are a little draconian in their advice.

Remember, you sent all the puritans over here. (And we put them to work in professional hectoring.)

 

[Amigos4]

The site you linked us to contains such absurities as:

The National Institutes of Health site says that people over 65 shouldn’t consume more than seven drinks in a week, and that they should have no more than three drinks on a given day.

The writers of that clearly have serious problems with the English language. The first underlined word should read 'morning', and the second 'hour'. Even with these corrections, the NIH people are a little draconian in their advice.

I'll drink to that! :up:

 

[Veggie]

Maybe the asker just wondered the difference between "too" and "so"? Why discuss about whether drinking at an old age is possible or not, instead of saying if it is grammatically right or wrong? (Not logically, grammatically. Because the asker can think if it's ok to drink at an old age or not in her/his own language.)

 

[5jj]

Maybe the asker just wondered the difference between "too" and "so"? Why discuss about whether drinking at an old age is possible or not, instead of saying if it is grammatically right or wrong? (Not logically, grammatically. Because the asker can think if it's ok to drink at an old age or not in her/his own language.)

Have you any more little doubts about the way we respond to questions?

 

[TomUK]

Balderdash
Poppycock
Claptrap
Hogwash
Baloney
Humbug
Drivel
Sphericals

Is this a list of your drinking mates?

Mine's a double! (This could be my last tipple before I hit the age limit.)

TomUK

 

[emsr2d2]

Maybe the asker just wondered the difference between "too" and "so"? Why discuss about whether drinking at an old age is possible or not, instead of saying if it is grammatically right or wrong? (Not logically, grammatically. Because the asker can think if it's ok to drink at an old age or not in her/his own language.)

I answered the difference between "too" and "so" in this context in my very first response - post #2. We have then gone on, as we frequently do, to discuss the contents of the OP's question and link. These discussions can be very informative and useful and, of course, they give learners a chance to see a discussion between native speakers using the language we use on a day-to-day basis. We always endeavour to answer the question first and then, sometimes, we continue the discussion.

The asker can ask what they like in their own language. He/she chose to ask a language question here. In addition the discussion over whether or not "too old to drink" makes sense is helpful from a language basis. We have said that "He is too old to drink" is grammatically correct. However, the OP should know that if they make such a statement in an English-speaking country, they may well be met with the same kind of reaction they got here, ie "What do you mean "too old to drink"? What a ridiculous notion."

 

[MikeNewYork]

Maybe the asker just wondered the difference between "too" and "so"? Why discuss about whether drinking at an old age is possible or not, instead of saying if it is grammatically right or wrong? (Not logically, grammatically. Because the asker can think if it's ok to drink at an old age or not in her/his own language.)

Do you think that correct grammar excuses a lack of logic? What would you say if a student asked about the sentence "Colorless green ideas sleep furiously"?[h=1][/h]