TOO and ENOUGH

“Too” and “enough” describe the degree or level of something.

In this lesson, you will learn the meaning of too and enough and how to use them with adjectives, adverbs and nouns.

too

The meaning of “too” is:

The degree of something is excessive.
More than suitable. More than enough.
More than what is needed or wanted.

Example:
The music is too loud.

This means the volume of the music is more than what is wanted or needed. The volume is excessive.

We can use “too” with many other parts of speech, including adjectives, adverbs and nouns.

too + adjective

We put “too” before the adjective.

Example:
I don’t like her dress. It is too long.

too + adjective + infinitive

Example:
She is too short to play basketball.

too + adverb

We place “too” before the adverb.

Examples:
He’s going to be late because he’s walking too slowly.
Jane is always tired because she works too hard.

too many + countable noun

“too many” is before the countable noun. The countable noun is in the plural form.

Examples:
I have bought too many bananas.
There are too many books in the library.

too much + uncountable noun

“too much” is before the uncountable noun. Uncountable nouns are always in the singular form.

Examples:
I have cooked too much pasta.
They have drunk too much wine. They are going to be ill.

enough

The meaning of “enough” is:

The necessary degree of something.
The sufficient degree of something.

Example:
Mark is strong enough to carry 3 boxes.

This means that Mark has sufficient strength. Mark has the level of strength needed to carry 3 boxes.

We can also use “enough” with adjectives, adverbs and nouns but the word order is slightly different.

adjective + enough

“enough” is after the adjective.

Example:

The car costs £200,000
I have £400,000
I am rich enough to buy the car.

adjective + enough + infinitive

Example:
Jane is only 10 years old.
She is not old enough to drive a car.

adverb + enough

“enough” is after the adverb.

Example:
She is losing the race. She is not running quickly enough.

adverb + enough + infinitive

Example:
The team is playing well enough to win the game.

enough + countable noun

We put “enough” before the countable noun. The countable noun is in the plural form.

Examples:
Only 3 people are coming to the meeting. There are enough chairs.
Do we have enough plates?

enough + uncountable noun

“enough” is before the uncountable noun. Uncountable nouns are always singular.

Examples:
Sorry, there isn’t enough cheese for everyone.
I would like to buy this watch but I don’t have enough money.

Other lessons

Countable and uncountable nouns
8 idioms about colours
ALL and EVERY | Determiners
MUCH and MANY – Determiners
Past simple tense

Video lesson