あまり meaning "too much"


When using `あまり` in the sense of "too much" (as opposed to "not very"), until
recently I had always seen it as `あまりにもA`, with A being the thing that there
was too much of. I never really tried to relate the meaning of individual
particles `に` and `も` to the word `あまり` and try to understand how it takes on
the meaning of "too much", I just accept it as a set expression. Here is an
example of this usage:

>   * あの本はあまりにも面白かったので、読むのに夢中になっていたら、いつの間にか夜が明けていた。
>

Recently I saw it used as `<N>のあまり` and `<V-dict>あまり` with seemingly identical
meaning. Examples:

>   * 母は、私を心配するあまり、体調を崩したようです。
>   * その犬が死んだ時、先生は悲しみのあまり、しばらく仕事を休んでいました。
>

Is this the same usage of あまり? Could I simply switch to the other pattern in
all 3 of the above examples?

>   * あの本は面白かったあまり、読むのに夢中になっていたら、いつの間にか夜が明けていた。
>   * 母は、私をあまりにも心配して、体調を崩したようです。
>   * その犬が死んだ時、先生はあまりにも悲しみ、しばらく仕事を休んでいました。
>

Is there any difference in nuance here, or perhaps is something flat out
wrong? Also, is there any context in which あまり can be used with に or は such as
`あまりに` or `あまりは`? If so, what is the meaning in this case? Maybe someone could
construct an example sentence with translation using `あまりに` and/or `あまりは`, if
it makes sense.




Yes, the meaning is the same, but the usage is not necessarily
interchangeable. According to my book, in the form `～のあまり`, the 「～」 part is
supposed to be something that expresses emotion or feeling. (感情を表す言葉)

> 例： 驚きのあまり、心配のあまり、感激のあまり、懐かしさのあまり、などなど

There is also one form that you didn't mention is `あまりの～に`. The ～ here is
often the さ-noun form of an adjective (形容詞に「さ」がついた名詞が来ることが多い).

> 例： あまりの暑さに、あまりのやさしさに、など

I'm not quite sure about the formation or usage of `あまりにもA`, as it is one of
those patterns that's somehow slipped through the cracks of all my years of
studying. But it seems that they all have the same connotations behind them.

