1

As far as I know, the phrase 'too far from' could be used with

  • noun (too far from a good car - bad car)

  • adjective (too far from beautiful - it isn't beautiful)

  • adverb (too far from always - rarely)

QUESTION:

Can I use this way of using the phrase 'too far from'?

man A: no one can do this exercise

man B: It's too far from no one can do it

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  • 3
    I don't know where you got the idea of using too far from, but none of your examples are idiomatic. The metaphoric usage Explaining this is far from easy is perfectly natural, but I think too would rarely if ever be used like that. I can only imagine it in literal contexts such as I live too far from the town to walk there, so I rely on the bus. – FumbleFingers Reinstate Monica Jun 10 '17 at 15:05
  • Also note that even without that clumsy too, the specific constructions far from always and far from good simply aren't used (but far from beautiful is common enough). – FumbleFingers Reinstate Monica Jun 10 '17 at 15:07
  • @FumbleFingers The first example that I recall is from the movie 'Pulp fiction' (too far from 'okay') – Max Jun 10 '17 at 15:11
  • @FumbleFingers far from everyone on Independence Square likes her – Max Jun 10 '17 at 15:15
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    Correction to idiom: something is far from being something. Not "too far from". So then: This is far from being something that no one can do. Now, it works. – Lambie Jun 10 '17 at 16:00
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From X won't work if X is a new clause with a subject and verb.

A gerund or participle is needed, or you can use a relative pronoun that makes sense.

The gerund or participle form of can is "being able to."

So:

It's too far from no one being able to do it.

or

It's too far from where no one could do it.

Also, your example is confusing, it seems like B is agreeing with A, in that no one can do the exercise. So B should not use a negative expression as it sounds like B doesn't agree with A otherwise.

man A: no one can do this exercise

man B: It's too far from anyone being able to do it or It's too far from where anyone could do it..

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  • 1
    I disagree with your first two examples. They are not idiomatic in my book. it's far from anyone being able to do it. One wouldn't say too far from here. – Lambie Jun 10 '17 at 16:01
  • I agree with Lambie. Not only are they not idiomatic, but I think the negative is outright ungrammatical. – Gustavson Jun 10 '17 at 16:05
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When speaking casually, we do say things like

I too far from sober to drive.

or

She's too far from satisfied with that paint job to recommend those painters to anybody

by analogy with

This apartment is too far from work to be a good place to live.

But I can't think of any examples with an adverb or a predicate.

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