あまり meaning "too much"?

Question

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 `のあまり` and `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.

Answer 1

あまり can be used when you're talking about too much of a bad thing or warning about excess.

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。That book was far too interesting and while I was so engrossed in reading, the day began to break at some point.

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。 にも can be dropped without changing the meaning.

母は、私のことを心配するあまり、体調を崩したようです。 Mother worried about me so much that it affected her health.

母は、私のことをあまりにも心配して、体調を崩したようです。Mother worried too much about me and get sick.

Changing it to TE-form made the sentence sound like a one-time occurrence.

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。 When his dog died, the teacher was so grief stricken that he took a few days off of work. NOUNのあまり indicates an extreme degree. に can be dropped after the あまり.

その犬が死んだ時、先生はあまりにも悲しみだと、しばらく仕事を休んでいました。When his dog died, if his grief was too great the teacher took a few days off of work. This pattern needs と after the noun and doesn't really work here. 先生はあまりにも悲しみだと、 その犬が死んだ時、しばらく仕事を休んだほうがいいでしょう。If the teacher's grief is to great, after his dog dies he should probably take some time off of work.

あまり can be used with に, but it doesn't seem to go with は.