Grammar

Too and Enough

'Too' means more than is wanted or needed and goes before an adjective; 'enough' means the right amount and goes after an adjective but before a noun.

Post

Level A2 Adjectives & Adverbs

Summary

'Too' means more than is wanted or needed and goes before an adjective; 'enough' means the right amount and goes after an adjective but before a noun.

Structure

too + adjective | adjective + enough | enough + noun

Examples

This coffee is too hot.
He isn't tall enough to reach the shelf.
We don't have enough chairs.
It's too late to call her now.

Common mistakes

• Placing 'enough' before an adjective, e.g. 'enough tall' instead of 'tall enough'.
• Using 'too' to mean 'very' in a positive sense, e.g. 'You are too kind' meaning a compliment can confuse learners with the 'excessive' meaning.

Related

So and Such As ... As Comparisons

More adjectives & adverbs

Comparatives and Superlatives A2

Use comparatives to compare two things and superlatives to compare three or more. Short adjectives add -er/-est; longer ones use more/most.

Adjective Order B1

When several adjectives describe one noun, English follows a usual order: opinion, then size, age, shape, colour, origin, material, and purpose. Following this order makes phrases sound natural.

Adverbs of Frequency A2

Adverbs of frequency (always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never) say how often something happens. They normally go before the main verb but after the verb 'be'.

Adverbs of Manner A2

Adverbs of manner describe how an action is done and usually come after the verb or its object. Many are formed by adding -ly to an adjective.

'So' and 'such' add emphasis. 'So' goes before an adjective or adverb on its own, while 'such' goes before a noun phrase, often with an adjective.

As ... As Comparisons B1

Use 'as + adjective/adverb + as' to say two things are equal. The negative 'not as ... as' shows that one thing is less than the other.

External links

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