How to use Too & Enough

Learn about the difference between “too” and “enough” in English grammar. Clear and simple explanation of meaning and use, with examples.

Keith Taylor

Forming sentences with Too and Enough

too + adjective/adverb
too much/many + noun
too much/many + of + pronoun/determiner

adjective/adverb + enough
enough + noun
enough + of + pronoun/determiner

Meaning

  1. Too is used to mean more than sufficient or more/less than necessary.
    • It’s too late to stop him.
    • Jerry was too young to watch the movie.
    • There are too many people on this train, there’s nowhere to sit.
    • You have too much money, give some to me.
    • You’ve eaten too many of those cakes.
  2. Enough is used to mean sufficient
    • Your clothes are big enough to fit me.
    • You’ve done enough work. You can stop now.
    • Have you got enough money to buy me a drink?
  3. Enough is used in negative sentences to mean less than sufficient or less than necessary.
    • You’re not working fast enough, you won’t finish on time.
    • Sorry, I haven’t got enough food for everyone.
    • Not enough of my friends are coming to the party.

Additional points

  1. Enough can be used without a noun if the meaning is clear.
    • There’s a lot of food but not enough for everyone.
  2. Enough can be replaced with the before a noun.
    • I don’t have the money to go on holiday.
    • His company doesn’t have the resources to do the job.
  3. Time or room can be used alone to mean enough time or enough room.
    • Is there room in your car for one more person?
    • Do we have time for a coffee?

Related grammar points

Comparative adjectives

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Keith Taylor

Keith is the co-founder of Eslbase and School of TEFL. He's been a teacher and teacher trainer for over 20 years, in Indonesia, Australia, Morocco, Spain, Italy, Poland, France and now in the UK.

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8 comments

  • Thiby

    I usually ask a student to stand up and try to reach the ceiling. After the others see that it is not possible, I ask “why can’t he do it?” If they don’t give me the correct structure, I tell them that “he/she isn’t tall enough” and that “he/she is too short”…

    • Lkhlil

      That’s helpful and interesting

  • Monica

    Find pictures, for example of a small girl standing next to a bicycle (adult) and say:

    “What’s the problem? Why can’t she ride the bike?”

    The students should come up with: “It’s too big or she’s too small”

  • Mariam

    I think the best way to teach this lesson is by using visual aids and pictures. For example, you could show 3 cups of water. One with a little water at the bottom, one full of water and one with water overflowing… students should reach the meaning on their own.

  • sidiki

    ok i get this, how can we use too and enough in interrogative sentence

  • Lkhlil

    We can choose 2 students, 1 taller than 2 and ask them to touch the bulb. Then ask them to make different sentences with too and enough.

  • Habtu Damie

    I would like to say thank you

  • Nisha

    Thanks

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