Grammar, compared
Too vs enough vs very
Too is more than you want. Enough is as much as you need. Very is a lot, with no problem.
Book a trial classThe short answer
| Too, very | Enough |
|---|---|
| It's too hot to work. (A problem.) | It isn't hot enough to swim. (Not the amount needed.) |
| It's very hot, but I like it. (No problem.) | We have enough chairs. |
| He is too young to drive. | He isn't old enough to drive. |
Where each word goes
| Word | Position | Example |
|---|---|---|
| too | Before an adjective or adverb, and before much or many | too expensive, too much noise, too many people |
| enough | After an adjective or adverb | old enough, fast enough |
| enough | Before a noun | enough money, enough time |
| very | Before an adjective or adverb | very good, very quickly |
| Pattern | Too plus adjective plus to, adjective plus enough plus to | too tired to go, old enough to vote |
Watch out if you speak Spanish
- Demasiado is too. Bastante or suficiente is enough. Muy is very.
- Put enough after the adjective: big enough, not enough big.
- Too is negative. Do not say too good when you mean very good.
- Too much goes with uncountable nouns, too many with plural ones.
Practice
Grammar practice
Choose or type the answer for each sentence, then check.
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Questions
- What is the difference between too and very?
- Very means a lot but not a problem. Too means more than you want or can manage.
- Can I say enough big?
- No. Enough comes after the adjective: big enough.
Keep going
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