Too and enough
too + adjective (too hot) vs adjective + enough (warm enough); too much/many; + to-infinitive consequences
I can place too and enough correctly and attach to-infinitive consequences.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
The soup is too salty, but the bread is good enough to save the dinner.
The soup is too salty, but the bread is good enough to save the dinner.
There are too many tourists and not enough benches on this pier.
There are too many tourists and not enough benches on this pier.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Word order is the rule:
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| too + adj | The tea is too hot. |
| adj + enough | The water is warm enough. |
| enough + noun | We have enough chairs. |
| too much/many + noun | too much noise, too many people |
With consequences: too tired to drive, old enough to vote. Note: too is negative (more than good); very is neutral: very hot (just a fact) vs too hot (a problem).
- *enough warm → warm enough: enough follows adjectives
- too as 'very': too = a problem, very = neutral
Common Error Patterns
enough before adjectives
adj + enough; enough + noun
too used as very
too signals a problem
The soup is too salty, but the bread is good enough to save the dinner.
The soup is too salty, but the bread is good enough to save the dinner.
too + adj and adj + enough + to-consequence.
There are too many tourists and not enough benches on this pier.
There are too many tourists and not enough benches on this pier.
too many + plural, not enough + noun.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A2 course exercises