English question. would you help me?

Question

Below is a question from an English test which is a multiple choice.

I have to pick up one to fill out the blank.

The textbook says the answer is number 4.

But I think the right answer should be number 2..

Which one is right? and why?

Engineers have determined that the hammer is ( ) heavy for that kind of job.

1. much 2. too much 3. a few 4. much too

Answer 1

4 =)

Answer 2

It's definitely number 4.  

Say it out loud with number 2 in the blank:  "Engineers have determined that the hammer is too much heavy for that kind of job".

Too much heavy?  That doesn't make any sense.

Answer 3

Number 4 is the correct answer.  In this case, "too" is being used to modify the adjective "heavy".  You're modifying it even further by adding another adverb "much".  Words in a series like this are usually tacked on at the beginning, every time a new modifier is added.  So you could say, for example:

Jane is pretty.

Jane is very pretty.

Jane is really very pretty

Jane is not really very pretty.

And so forth, with as many modifiers as you wanted to use, but you keep adding them to the beginning each time.  The particular example you gave is harder than most because the word "too" can be used in so many different ways and there are no easy rules to remember how to use it properly.

Answer 4

The book is right.

Answer 5

Number 4 is correct.

I would say that the constructions go like this:

too much <something (noun)> -->  excess of something, more than needed

too much money -- an excessive amount of money

much too <adjective> --> excessively <adjective>

much too heavy -- excessively heavy

much too slow -- excessively slow

I don't believe any native speaker would ever use option 2, formally or informally...

Answer 6

Number four is correct.

"is" means "to be" and "heavy" is an adjective.

Because "much" is also an adjective, it can't crash in with another one. So, adding "too" after "much" is separating "much" and "heavy" since they are both adjectives.

Answer 7

The answer is 4.

Answer 8

Definitely # 4 "much too"

I can see why you think # 2 is the best answer though. When people talk, they usually use # 2 but the formal answer is # 4

Answer 9

4. much too is the correct answer. if you think about it, too much heavy seems a bit weird. too much is usually used for nouns like "too much gas" or "too much rice".