too poor to

USAGE SUMMARY

'too poor to' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you wish to indicate that something is so financially difficult that it cannot be done or achieved. For example: "The family was too poor to afford a car."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Libya was too poor to complain.

The New York Times

"I'm too poor to have an iPhone.

The New York Times - Arts

"We're too poor to buy cheap things".

The New York Times

People are too poor to prepare.

The Guardian

Americans are too poor to stimulate economic growth.

The New Yorker

They may be too poor to qualify for a mortgage.

The Economist

I was too poor to work there anyway.

The New Yorker

Maybe we really are too poor to restore it.

The New York Times

Simply put, it is too poor to grow.

The Economist

The team struggled at first, too poor to buy uniforms.

The New York Times

Some states are too poor to adopt worthwhile reforms.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "too poor to", ensure the context clearly establishes the financial constraint preventing the action. Be specific about what the lack of money prevents.

Common error

Avoid using "too poor to" when the situation involves choices or priorities rather than absolute financial impossibility. For example, instead of saying "They were too poor to go on vacation", consider "They chose not to go on vacation to save money".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "too poor to" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating a state of financial inability. According to Ludwig, it is correct and usable in written English. Examples show it describes why someone can't do something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "too poor to" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a lack of financial resources preventing a certain action. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It's prevalent in news, scientific, and business contexts, signifying its broad applicability. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly demonstrates the financial constraint. Alternative phrases like "unable to afford" or "cannot afford to" can be used interchangeably depending on the context. Remember to avoid overstating financial limitations when other factors are at play.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unable to afford

Focuses directly on the inability to pay for something.

cannot afford to

Directly states the lack of financial means for an action.

lacking the funds to

Emphasizes the absence of necessary funds.

without the means to

Highlights the absence of resources or capability.

not wealthy enough to

Specifically addresses the lack of wealth.

financially incapable of

Highlights the financial inability to perform an action.

hard pressed to

Suggests difficulty due to limited resources, not exclusively financial.

on a low budget so can't

Explicitly mentions a limited budget restricting options.

strapped for cash and unable to

Emphasizes the lack of available cash.

living in poverty making it impossible to

Highlights the condition of poverty and its limiting effect.

FAQs

How can I use "too poor to" in a sentence?

Use "too poor to" to describe situations where someone lacks the financial resources to do something. For example, "The family was "too poor to" afford healthcare".

What are some alternatives to "too poor to"?

Alternatives include "unable to afford", "cannot afford to", or "lacking the funds to" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "so poor that" instead of "too poor to"?

While "so poor that" can convey a similar meaning, "too poor to" directly links the poverty to an inability to perform a specific action. For example, "They were so poor that they couldn't afford food" versus "They were "too poor to" buy food".

Can "too poor to" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "too poor to" is appropriate for both formal and informal writing as it's a straightforward and clear way to express financial constraints.