too & enough
too + adjective (excess) and (not) enough for sufficiency, using Unit 21 words.
too + adjective means more than is wanted or needed — a problem. enough shows something reaches the right amount; not … enough shows it falls short. Every example uses this unit's global-problems words.
A — How it works
too goes before an adjective and always signals a problem. enough goes after an adjective, but before a noun.
1) too + adjective
Always negative — more than is wanted.
- Pollution levels are too high for people to breathe safely.
- The drought was too severe for the crops to survive.
- Plastic waste is too widespread to clean up quickly.
- The conflict was too dangerous for aid workers to enter the region.
2) adjective + enough / not + adjective + enough
enough after the adjective. not … enough shows something falls short.
- Renewable energy is not cheap enough yet for every country to switch.
- The evacuation wasn't fast enough to save every home.
- Is the campaign strong enough to reduce plastic waste?
- The shelter was warm enough for the refugees to stay safe.
3) enough + noun
enough goes before a noun, showing there is (not) a sufficient quantity.
- There isn't enough renewable energy to replace fossil fuels yet.
- The city doesn't have enough shelters for every homeless family.
- We don't have enough time to tackle climate change slowly.
- Did the region get enough aid after the earthquake?
4) Common mistakes
Do not reverse the word order of enough.
- ✓ The response wasn't quick enough. ✗ The response wasn't enough quick.
- ✓ too much inequality (uncountable) / too many refugees (countable).
- ✓ We need enough conservation projects, not enough of conservation.
The rest of this lesson is in the General English course:
- B — Quick reference
- Remember
Try it: too or enough?
Choose the correct word.
- The heatwave was ___ dangerous for outdoor work to continue.
(a) too (b) enough (c) so - Is the aid budget large ___ to help every refugee?
(a) too (b) enough (c) very - There isn't ___ clean water in the drought-hit region.
(a) too (b) enough (c) so - The landslide happened ___ quickly for anyone to escape.
(a) too (b) enough (c) very - This campaign isn't strong ___ to change people's habits.
(a) too (b) enough (c) so - Inequality is ___ serious a problem to ignore.
(a) too (b) enough (c) very
Check your answers in the course — it marks them instantly. This is one of the unit's 4 exercises; the other 3 are in the General English course too.
Practise this unit in the course →