too+adjective

[Solomon_13000]

The building is very tall.
The building is too tall.

I was told that the first sentence is correct. Therefore when do we use the too+adjective?.

[Esl_Expert]

Hi Solomon,

In your second sentence, the word 'too' conveys the (negative) idea that the building is excessively tall.

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"I have the conviction that excessive literary production is a social offense." ~ George Eliot

[Mordant]

Both sentences are correct but have different meanings. "Very" means to a marked extent. "Too" means excessive. The latter is inherently critical. In informal negative sentences, "too" can also mean "very."

If I say the Empire State Building is very tall, I am describing conspicuous height. I may like that. I may have no opinion. I may dislike it.
If I say it is too tall, that means I think it should be smaller.

In informal negative sentences, "He isn't too bright" equals "He isn't very bright." Only the latter is acceptable in all forms of writing and speech. Although "very" means to a considerable degree, the negative sentences here are usually evasive ways to express the opposite (i.e., he is stupid).