Table of Contents
Grammar: Too or Enough
What Do the Terms “Too and Enough” Mean?
Too and enough indicate a degree. They modify adjectives, adverbs, and nouns.
- Too means more than what is needed.
- Enough means sufficient.
Examples:
- He is too old to play football with the kids.
- Dave is intelligent enough to do the right thing.
- You’re not working fast enough
- I don’t have enough time.
- He has too many friends.
- She has got too much patience
Use of too and enough
When and how to use too or enough:
Enough
1. Enough After Adjectives and Adverbs:
Enough comes after adjectives and adverbs:
ADJECTIVE + ENOUGH
OR
ADVERB + ENOUGH
Examples:
- He isn’t old enough to watch this program.
- We’re not walking quickly enough.
2. Enough Before Nouns:
Enough may also precede nouns:
ENOUGH + NOUN
Examples:
- We have enough money.
- I have not got enough money to buy this computer.
Too
1. Too Before Adjectives and Adverbs:
Too comes before adjectives and adverbs:
TOO + ADJECTIVES
OR
TOO + ADVERBS
Examples:
- It’s too hot to wear that coat.
- I was driving too fast.
2. Too Before Nouns
Too may also come before nouns when it is used in the expressions too much and too many.
a. Too much is used before uncountable nouns.
TOO MUCH + UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS
Example:
- There is too much salt in this food.
b. Too many is used before countable nouns
TOO MANY + COUNTABLE NOUNS
Example:
- There are too many students in this classroom.
See more about countable and uncountable nouns
Example Sentences With Too And Enough
Here are 10 examples using “too” and “enough”:
Using “Too”:
- The coffee is too hot to drink right now.
- She is too tired to attend the late-night party.
- The suitcase is too heavy for me to carry alone.
- It’s too far to walk; we should take a taxi.
- The music in the concert hall was too loud for my liking.
Using “Enough”:
- We have enough groceries to last the entire week.
- He is skilled enough to complete the challenging task.
- Do you have enough time to finish the assignment before the deadline?
- There is not enough sugar in the recipe; it needs more sweetness.
- She speaks Spanish well enough to communicate with the locals during her travels.
These examples involve the usage of “too” to indicate excess or more than needed, and “enough” to signify sufficiency or adequacy.
More example sentences here.
Summary
| Too or Enough | Placement | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Too | Before (1) adjectives, (2) adverbs, and (3) nouns with “too much” or “too many”. | – It’s too cold to go outside. – He’s driving too fast. – She ate too much cake at the party. |
| Enough | After (1) adjectives and (2) adverbs, or (3) before nouns. | – He isn’t quick enough. – He doesn’t walk fast enough. – Do you have enough time to finish the task? – There is not enough sugar in the recipe. |
FAQs
What is the difference between enough and too?
Enough and too are both words that indicate a degree, but they express opposite ideas. Enough implies sufficiency or adequacy. It suggests that there is a satisfactory amount or degree of something as in “I have enough time to finish the project.” Too indicates excess or more than what is necessary. It suggests that there is an undesirable or excessive amount or degree of something as in “The coffee is too hot to drink.”
What is the rule of too and enough?
Enough comes after adjectives and adverbs as in “He isn’t old enough to drive.” It can also precede nouns as in “We have enough supplies.” Too comes before adjectives, adverbs, and nouns when used with “too much” or “too many as in “It’s too cold to go outside,” or “There are too many books on the shelf.”
How do you use not enough?
Not enough is used to express insufficient quantity or degree. It indicates a lack or absence of adequacy.
– Example: There is not enough time to complete the project.
– Example: She did not eat enough vegetables for a balanced diet.
In general, “not enough” is used when there is a deficiency or when something falls short of what is required or desired.
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