Too and Enough: Form, Word Order and Examples

Too means more than is good, more than we want, or more than is possible. It always shows a problem. Put it before an adjective or an adverb: too expensive, too late, too quickly.

Do not confuse too with very. Very only makes a word stronger: The film was very long (but OK). Too says it was a problem: The film was too long (I got bored or I missed my bus).

We can make too stronger with much, far or a bit: much too big, far too expensive, a bit too cold. Do not say very too.

Before a noun, use too much or too many. Use too much with uncountable nouns (too much sugar, too much noise) and too many with plural countable nouns (too many cars, too many questions). This is the same as the rule for much and many.

Too much can also go after a verb: You work too much. He talks too much.

For the opposite, less than you need, everyday English says not enough. Too little and too few exist, but they are more formal. See a few and a little for the difference between few and little.

Enough means as much as needed: the right amount. With adjectives and adverbs, enough comes after the word: old enough, warm enough, fast enough. This is the opposite of too.

The negative is very common: not + adjective + enough means less than we need. The coat isn't warm enough means it is not as warm as it needs to be.

Saying Is it big enough? or Is that good enough? is a natural way to check if something is OK.

With nouns, enough comes before the noun: enough money, enough chairs, enough time. It works with both uncountable nouns and plural nouns.

If the noun is clear, you can use enough alone: More cake? No, thanks, I've had enough. The phrase I've had enough can also mean I'm tired of something and want it to stop.

After too and enough we often use to + base verb to show the result: She's too young to drive. He's old enough to vote. The sentence with too says the action is not possible. The sentence with enough says it is possible.

To say who, add for + person before to: The box is too heavy for me to carry. The text was easy enough for the children to read.

Notice that we do not repeat the object at the end: The box is too heavy to carry, not The box is too heavy to carry it.

Too and enough are everywhere in daily speech, especially when shopping, cooking and making plans. People say That's too much! about prices, It's not big enough about clothes, and That's enough! to make someone stop.

In informal speech, too can sound strong or rude, so people soften it: It's a bit too spicy for me. Remember that too has a second meaning, also, at the end of a sentence: I like it too. The context makes the meaning clear.