Simple explanation
What do too and enough mean? Too and enough help us talk about whether something is suitable in amount or degree. Too means that something is more than necessary, wanted, or suitable. Enough means that something is sufficient for a particular need or purpose. For example, This bag is too heavy means its weight causes a problem. This bag is light enough means its weight is suitable for what you want to do. Using too with adjectives and adverbs Put too before an adjective or adverb. With an adjective, it shows that a quality is beyond a suitable level: too expensive, too cold, too difficult. With an adverb, it shows that an action happens in an unsuitable way or degree: too quickly, too slowly, too loudly. Too is therefore different from very. Very makes a description stronger, while too usually suggests a problem or an unwanted result. Using enough with adjectives and adverbs Enough comes after an adjective or adverb: warm enough, strong enough, quickly enough. This word order is important. We do not normally say enough warm or enough quickly. Enough shows that the degree of a quality or action is sufficient for a particular situation. Using enough with nouns When enough describes an amount or number, it comes before the noun: enough time, enough water, enough chairs. It can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. We have enough chairs means the number of chairs is sufficient. We have enough water means the amount of water is sufficient. Using too much and too many Use too much when the amount of an uncountable noun is greater than needed or wanted: too much sugar, too much work, too much noise. Use too many with plural countable nouns: too many books, too many people, too many questions. The choice between much and many depends on whether the noun is uncountable or countable. Using too and enough with to + verb Too and enough can connect a quality with an action. Too + adjective + to + verb often means that the quality creates a problem or prevents the action: The box is too heavy to carry. Adjective + enough + to + verb means that the quality is sufficient for the action: He is strong enough to carry the box. Negative sentences and questions Enough is common in negative sentences when something is insufficient: The room isn't warm enough. In questions, its position stays the same: Is the room warm enough? Too also keeps its normal position in questions: Is this bag too heavy? These patterns allow you to ask whether something is excessive or sufficient.
Grammar formula
Too with an adjective
too + adjectiveThe room is too cold.
Too with an adverb
too + adverbYou're speaking too quickly.
Enough with an adjective
adjective + enoughThe room is warm enough.
Enough with an adverb
adverb + enoughShe speaks clearly enough.
Enough with a noun
enough + nounWe have enough food.
Too much
too much + uncountable nounThere's too much sugar in this tea.
Too many
too many + plural countable nounThere are too many people here.
Too with an infinitive
too + adjective + to + verbI'm too tired to cook.
Enough with an infinitive
adjective + enough + to + verbHe's tall enough to reach it.
Negative with enough
not + adjective/adverb + enoughThe water isn't warm enough.
Question with too
be + subject + too + adjective?Is this suitcase too heavy?
Question with enough
be + subject + adjective + enough?Is the room quiet enough?
Core rules
- 1
Put too before an adjective or adverb
Use too + adjective/adverb when a quality or action goes beyond a suitable or wanted level: too hot, too expensive, too slowly.
- 2
Put enough after an adjective or adverb
Use adjective/adverb + enough when the degree is sufficient: big enough, fast enough, carefully enough.
- 3
Put enough before a noun
Use enough + noun to talk about a sufficient amount or number: enough money, enough food, enough seats.
- 4
Use too much with uncountable nouns
Use too much + uncountable noun when an amount is greater than needed or wanted: too much coffee, too much traffic, too much homework.
- 5
Use too many with plural countable nouns
Use too many + plural countable noun when a number is greater than needed or wanted: too many cars, too many emails, too many people.
- 6
Use too ... to when a quality causes a problem
The pattern too + adjective + to + verb often shows that a quality makes an action difficult, unsuitable, or impossible: It's too late to call her.
- 7
Use enough ... to when a quality is sufficient
The pattern adjective + enough + to + verb shows that a person or thing has the necessary quality for an action: She's old enough to travel alone.
Useful examples
This coffee is too hot to drink.
The coffee is so hot that drinking it is difficult or not suitable yet.
Too comes before the adjective hot and shows that the temperature causes a problem.
The room isn't big enough for six people.
The room does not have sufficient space for six people.
Enough comes after the adjective big.
We have enough food for everyone.
The amount of food we have is sufficient for everybody.
Enough comes before the noun food.
You're driving too fast.
Your driving speed is higher than it should be.
Too comes before fast and shows that the speed is unsuitable.
Is this jacket warm enough for winter?
Does this jacket provide sufficient warmth for winter?
In a question, enough still comes after the adjective warm.
I don't have enough money to buy a new laptop.
I do not have the amount of money needed for a new laptop.
Enough comes before the uncountable noun money.
There are too many people on the bus.
The number of people on the bus is greater than is comfortable or suitable.
People is a plural countable noun, so too many is used.
You put too much salt in the soup.
The amount of salt you added to the soup is greater than needed.
Salt is uncountable in this context, so too much is used.
My sister is old enough to travel alone.
My sister has reached a suitable age for travelling by herself.
Old enough to travel shows that the required condition is met.
I'm too tired to go out tonight.
I am so tired that going out tonight is not suitable for me.
Too tired to go out connects an excessive degree of tiredness with its result.
She didn't speak loudly enough, so I couldn't hear her.
Her voice was not sufficiently loud, so I was unable to hear her.
Enough comes after the adverb loudly.
This table is too small for our family.
The table does not have enough space or size for our family.
Too small shows that the size is below what the situation requires.
Do we have enough chairs for the guests?
Is the number of chairs sufficient for all the guests?
Enough comes before the plural noun chairs.
The music is too loud. Can you turn it down?
The music is louder than I want it to be, so please make it quieter.
Too loud naturally introduces a problem and a request to change it.
Common mistakes
- ❌ The room is enough big. ✅ The room is big enough. Enough comes after an adjective, so the correct order is big enough.
- ❌ This bag is heavy too. ✅ This bag is too heavy. When too means more than is suitable, it comes before the adjective.
- ❌ We don't have money enough. ✅ We don't have enough money. Enough comes before a noun: enough money.
- ❌ There are too much people here. ✅ There are too many people here. People is a plural countable noun, so use too many rather than too much.
- ❌ I drink too many coffee. ✅ I drink too much coffee. Coffee is uncountable when we mean the drink in general, so too much is needed.
- ❌ She is enough old to drive. ✅ She is old enough to drive. In adjective + enough + to + verb, enough must follow the adjective.
- ❌ The box is too heavy for carry. ✅ The box is too heavy to carry. Use to + base form of the verb after this too + adjective structure.
- ❌ This laptop is very expensive for me to buy. ✅ This laptop is too expensive for me to buy. If the intended meaning is that the price prevents the purchase, too expresses that idea more clearly than very.
Learning tips
- Remember the contrast: too hot, but hot enough.
- Enough changes position depending on what follows: enough + noun, but adjective/adverb + enough.
- Do not treat too as a simple synonym for very. Too usually suggests that a limit has been passed or that there is a problem.
- Before choosing too much or too many, check the noun: use too much with uncountable nouns and too many with plural countable nouns.
- Use not ... enough when something is below the required level: not big enough, not fast enough, not warm enough.
- The position of too and enough does not change in questions: Is it too expensive? Is it cheap enough?
- Learning short patterns such as too + adjective, adjective + enough, and enough + noun is easier than memorising isolated rules.
Practise this topic
Interactive exercises for this topic are coming soon.
PlannedRelated grammar
Related dictionary words
Frequently asked questions
Why do we say big enough and not enough big?
Enough normally comes after an adjective or adverb, so we say big enough, warm enough, and quickly enough. With a noun, the order changes: enough space, enough money, and enough time.
What is the difference between too and very?
Very makes a description stronger: very expensive means the price is high. Too usually means that something has gone beyond a suitable or acceptable level: too expensive can mean the price is so high that you cannot or do not want to buy it.
When should I use too much and too many?
Use too much with uncountable nouns such as money, water, and time. Use too many with plural countable nouns such as books, cars, and people.
Can enough be used in negative sentences?
Yes. Not ... enough is very common when something is insufficient. For example, The room isn't warm enough means the temperature is below the level you need or want.
How do I make a question with enough?
Keep enough in its normal position. For example, ask Is the room big enough? when enough follows an adjective, or Do we have enough food? when enough comes before a noun.
Can I use a verb after too or enough?
Yes. You can often use to + base verb: too tired to work, too young to drive, strong enough to carry the bag, or warm enough to swim.
Can enough be used with both countable and uncountable nouns?
Yes. You can say enough chairs with a plural countable noun and enough water with an uncountable noun.