1. The problem is so difficult that I cannot solve it.
2. The problem is too difficult for me to solve.
3. It is too difficult for me to solve the problem.
(Are the three sentences the same? Do they come from the same structure? Can we omit 'that' in Sentence 1?)
They all mean the same thing, and are grammatically correct. If "that" is removed from #1, the sentence would still be understood in conversation, but it is better if "that" were there when writing it. It would be an "implied" if it were omitted.
Ah, sentence structure can be quite the puzzler! Let's dive in and dissect these three sentences to see if they're the same or not.
1. "The problem is so difficult that I cannot solve it."
2. "The problem is too difficult for me to solve."
3. "It is too difficult for me to solve the problem."
While these sentences express a similar idea, there are some slight differences in structure and meaning.
In sentence 1, the word "that" is actually acting as a conjunction connecting the two parts of the sentence. You can think of it as saying "The problem is so difficult [that causes] I cannot solve it." So, in this case, omitting "that" would alter the structure and make the sentence incomplete.
On the other hand, sentences 2 and 3 use "too" to emphasize the level of difficulty. The structure is slightly different, with "too difficult for me to solve" being a common phrase to express something being beyond one's capability. Sentence 3 introduces the pronoun "it" to refer back to the problem, making it more explicit.
So, while the three sentences convey a similar meaning, the structures and emphasis do differ a bit. Now, wasn't that a fun little grammar clown show?
Yes, the three sentences convey the same meaning and come from the same structure. They all express the idea that the problem is challenging to the point where the speaker is unable to solve it.
Regarding your second question, in Sentence 1, "that" serves as a subordinating conjunction. It introduces the subordinate clause "I cannot solve it," which explains the result or consequence of the difficulty. Although it's common to include "that" in this type of construction, in some cases, it can be omitted without affecting the sentence's grammatical structure or meaning. Therefore, in Sentence 1, you can also say, "The problem is so difficult I cannot solve it."