Too / Enough
Stating minimum and maximum
requirements
The expressions "too" and "enough" are used to state opinions about what we think is meets minimum and maximum requirements.
Too vs. Enough
| TOO + ADJECTIVE + INFINITIVE PHRASE |
ADJECTIVE + ENOUGH + INFINITIVE PHRASE |
| Too means inadequate (not sufficient, below what is desirable) or excessive (above what is desirable). |
Enough means adequate; within what is desirable |
| Jill is too young to
get her driver's license. (She cannot get it.) |
Jill is old enough to
get her driver's license. (She can get it.) |
| This work is too hard to do. (I cannot do it.) |
This work is easy enough to do. (I can do it.) |
| This orange is too bitter to eat. (I cannot eat it.) |
This orange is sweet enough to eat. (I can eat it.) |
Adequate — means the same
| NEGATIVE + TOO |
ENOUGH |
| Not too means adequate; within what is desirable |
Not too = enough |
| Jill is not too young to
get her driver's license. (She is within an allowable range.) |
Jill is old enough to
get her driver's license .(She is within an allowable range.) |
| This work isn't too hard to do. (It is within a do-able range.) |
This work is easy enough to do. (It is within a do-able range.) |
| This orange isn't too bitter to eat. (It is within a desirable range.) |
This orange is sweet enough to eat. (It is within a desirable range.) |
Inadequate or Excessive — means almost the same
| TOO |
NEGATIVE + ENOUGH |
| Use too before an adjective for an unacceptable, excessive amount. |
Use enought before an adjective for an unacceptable, inadequate amount. |
| Jill is too young to
get her driver's license. (She is under-age.) |
Jill isn't old enough to
get her driver's license. (She is under-age.) |
| Jill's grandfather is too old to keep his driver's license. (His age is excessive: his abilities are inadequate.) |
Jill's grandfather isn't [young] competent enough to keep his driver's license. ( His abilities are inadequate.) |
| This work is too hard to do. (It is excessively hard.) |
This work isn't easy enough to do. (The level of ease is inadequate.) |
| This orange is too bitter to eat. (It is excessively bitter.) |
This orange isn't sweet enough to eat. (It is inadequately sweet.) |
Common Mistakes
| ERROR |
FIX |
Your wife is too beautiful.
("too" alone means excessive; too beautiful = unnatural) |
Your wife is very beautiful.
(BUT: This clothing is too beautiful to wear while working.) |
Your baby is beautiful enough.
("enough" alone means barely acceptable; tolerable) |
Your baby is very beautiful.
Your baby is beautiful enough to be in a commercial. (It requires explanation.) |
Too Much & Much Too
Adding Emphasis
Too Many vs. Too Much
| TOO MANY + COUNT NOUN |
TOO MUCH + NONCOUNT NOUN |
| Use too many before a count noun for an unacceptable, excessive amount. |
Use too much before a noncount noun for an unacceptable, excessive amount. |
| People eat too many chips, cookies and candy bars. (to stay healthy) |
People eat too much fat, sugar and salt. (to stay healthy) |
Vending machines sell too many high-calorie snacks.
|
Prepared food uses too much packaging. (plastic, boxes, padding) |
