Too and enough tell us if an amount is right for what we want. Too means more than we want, so there's a problem. Enough means the right amount, and not enough means less than we need.
The pattern
This coffee is too hot to drink.
She's old enough to vote.
We don't have enough chairs for everyone.
01Too: more than you want
Put too before an adjective or adverb: too expensive, too late, too fast. Before a noun, use too much with uncountable nouns and too many with plural nouns. After a verb, too much works alone: I ate too much.
Too usually means a problem. For something good, use very or so: The view is so beautiful. (Polite phrases like "You're too kind" are the exception.)
| too + adjective | too much + uncountable | too many + plural |
|---|---|---|
| too expensive | too much traffic | too many emails |
| too late | too much sugar | too many people |
| too tired | too much homework | too many questions |
02Enough: before a noun, after an adjective
Enough goes after an adjective or adverb, but before a noun. For less than we need, make the verb negative: not big enough, not enough time.
- Is the room warm enough?
- You're not speaking loudly enough.
- Do we have enough time?
- I didn't get enough sleep last night.
03Adding to + verb and for + person
Add to + verb to say what is possible or not possible: too tired to drive, old enough to drive. Add for + person to say who it's about: too heavy for me to carry, big enough for four people.
Don't repeat the object at the end. The box is too heavy to carry, not to carry it.
- The box is too heavy for me to carry.
- The car is big enough for five people.
- It's too cold to swim today.
04Too or not enough?
You can often say the same idea both ways. Use too with one adjective, or not ... enough with its opposite.
- The apartment is too small. = The apartment isn't big enough.
- You're driving too slowly. = You're not driving fast enough.
05Common mistakes
She's enough old to drive.
She's old enough to drive.
Enough comes after an adjective.
There are too much cars on this road.
There are too many cars on this road.
Cars is plural, so use too many.
The soup is too hot to eat it.
The soup is too hot to eat.
The soup is already the subject, so don't add it at the end.
Your apartment is too nice!
Your apartment is so nice!
Too usually means a problem. For praise, use so or very.