Too and enough

Too hot, not big enough, enough money, too many people: more or less than we need.

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Too means "more than is good or possible": This coffee is too hot. Enough means "as much as we need": The room is big enough. The word order is different: too goes before an adjective, enough goes after it.

Too + adjective or adverb

Too goes before an adjective or an adverb. It shows that there is a problem.

This jacket is too small. I need a bigger size.
It's too late to call him now.
You're driving too fast. Please slow down.
We got there too early. The shop was still closed.

Too or very?

Very only makes a word stronger. Too says it is more than we want, so there is a problem. In most sentences, too can't simply mean "very".

The hotel was very expensive, but it was beautiful.
(Expensive, but we paid.)
The hotel was too expensive, so we stayed somewhere else.
(More than we could pay.)
Incorrect: The weather is too nice today. Let's go for a walk.
Correct: The weather is very nice today. Let's go for a walk.
Nice weather is not a problem, so use very.

Adjective + enough

Enough goes after an adjective or an adverb. With not, it says that something is less than we need.

Is the water warm enough for swimming?
He isn't old enough to vote.
I can't hear you. You aren't speaking loudly enough.
Incorrect: This room isn't enough big for four people.
Correct: This room isn't big enough for four people.
Enough goes after the adjective.

Enough + noun

With a noun, enough goes before it.

Have we got enough eggs for a cake?
I don't have enough time to cook tonight.
There aren't enough chairs for everyone.
Incorrect: We haven't got money enough for a holiday.
Correct: We haven't got enough money for a holiday.
Before a noun: enough money.

Too much and too many + noun

Before a noun, use too many with plural nouns and too much with uncountable nouns.

There are too many cars in the city centre.
I drank too much coffee this morning.
Incorrect: There were too much people at the concert.
Correct: There were too many people at the concert.
People is plural, so use too many.

For someone, to do something

After too or enough, add for + a person and to + a verb to say who has the problem or what is not possible.

This bag is too heavy to carry.
The question was easy enough for the children.
This flat is too expensive for us.
It's warm enough to sit outside.
Incorrect: The box is too heavy for carry.
Correct: The box is too heavy to carry.
Before a verb, use to.

Too, not too much

Before an adjective, use too alone. Too much goes before an uncountable noun, or after a verb.

The soup is too salty.
You work too much.
Incorrect: This room is too much small for us.
Correct: This room is too small for us.
Before an adjective, use too, not too much.

The same idea can often be said both ways: The car is too small means the same as The car isn't big enough.

Enough on its own

Enough can stand alone when the noun is clear.

"More coffee?" "No, thanks. I've had enough."
That's enough for today. Let's stop.

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Where this rule sits

All A2 rules Adjectives and adverbs: all rules

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Comparative adjectivesA2Elementary