When do we use “too” and “enough”?

Both too and enough are adverbs of degree.

Too means “excessively”, indicating that something is more or less than necessary.

Enough means “sufficiently”, meaning that something is just the right amount or as much as needed.

The soup is too salty to eat.
(The soup has too much salt, so I can’t eat it.)

The soup is warm enough to eat.
(The soup is not too hot or too cold, so I can eat it.)

Using TOO

The word too has a negative meaning because it suggests that something is more or less than necessary.

too + adjective

When too is followed by an adjective or adverb, it means that the quality is stronger than desired.

This room is too cold.
(It is colder than I would like.)

It’s too noisy in here.
(The noise level is too high.)

That movie was too boring.
(The movie was more boring than I expected.)

Other meanings of “too”

Too can also mean “also”, “as well”, or “in addition”.

When used in this sense, too is usually placed at the end of the sentence.

I want to go too.
(I also want to go.)

For more on this usage, see the article: “Also, Too, Either.”

too + adjective / adverb + to do something

We can use too with an adjective or adverb to explain how the intensity of something affects an action.

I’m too tired to study.
(I feel so tired that I cannot study.)

This tea is too bitter to drink.
(The tea tastes so bitter that I don’t want to drink it.)

Lucas is too shy to speak in front of a crowd.
(He is too shy to give a speech.)

too + adjective + for someone + infinitive

This structure is used to indicate who is affected by the characteristic.

This dress is too small for me to wear.
(The dress does not fit me because it is too small.)

That book is too difficult for children to read.
(Children cannot read it because it is too hard.)

too + adverb

We can also use too with an adverb to emphasize that an action is performed more than necessary.

She spoke too softly, and I couldn’t hear her.
(Her voice was too quiet.)

You’re driving too fast!
(You should slow down.)

He works too hard and never takes breaks.
(He overworks himself.)

too + very ❌ (Incorrect Usage)

We should not use two adverbs of degree together to describe the same quality.

This is too very difficult.

This is too difficult. / This is very difficult.

too + much / many

We use too much and too many to emphasize an excessive quantity of something.

I have too many shoes.
(More shoes than I need.)

She drank too many cups of tea today.
(She drank more tea than she should have.)

He spends too much time on his phone.
(He should reduce his screen time.)

I don’t have too much free time.
(I don’t have a lot of spare time.)

Remember:

too much → for uncountable nouns

too many → for countable nouns

Sophia eats too many cookies.
(Cookies are countable.)

I complain too much.
(Complaining is uncountable.)

too + much / many + of + pronoun / article

When too much or too many is followed by a pronoun (this, their, my, etc.) or an article (the, a, an), we must add “of” before it.

You spent too much of my money.
(You spent more of my money than I expected.)

I ate too many of those candies.
(I consumed more than I should have.)

See related article: Much, Many, A Lot Of

Too vs To

Too and to are homophones (words that sound the same but have different meanings). Too is an adverb meaning “excessively” or “also”. To is a preposition meaning “toward,” “for,” or “in order to.”

It’s too late to leave now.
(It is excessively late.)

Let’s go to the cinema.
(Let’s go toward the cinema.)

She’s too tired to continue working.
(She needs rest before continuing.)

Using ENOUGH

Enough means “sufficiently” and has a positive meaning because it shows that there is an adequate amount of something.

enough + noun

When enough is used with a noun, it comes before the noun. This structure is used to say that there is a sufficient quantity of something.

There isn’t enough sugar in my coffee.
(It doesn’t taste sweet enough.)

Is there enough space for everyone?
(Do we have enough room?)

Sam doesn’t have enough experience for the job.
(He needs more experience.)

adjective + enough

When enough is used with an adjective, it comes after the adjective.

She is strong enough to carry the boxes.
(She has enough strength to lift them.)

This jacket isn’t warm enough.
(It is not warm enough for cold weather.)

The test wasn’t easy enough for beginners.
(It was too difficult for them.)

adverb + enough

When enough is used with an adverb, it also comes after the adverb.

They explained it clearly enough.
(It was clear enough to understand.)

We weren’t walking fast enough.
(We should have walked faster.)

He didn’t study well enough to pass.
(His studying wasn’t sufficient.)

adjective / adverb + enough + to do something

This structure is used to indicate that someone has enough of a quality to perform an action.

She’s old enough to travel alone.
(She is allowed to travel alone.)

Ben isn’t smart enough to solve this puzzle.
(He finds the puzzle too difficult.)

I’m not tall enough to reach the top shelf.
(I need a stool to reach it.)

verb + enough

When enough is used with a verb, it comes after the verb.

I don’t sleep enough.
(I should sleep more.)

She doesn’t drink enough water.
(She should hydrate more.)

I’ve seen enough.
(I don’t need to see more.)

Comparison of too and enough

too	enough
Sentence Structure
too + adjective / adverb The weather is too hot. He runs too fast.	adjective / adverb + enough The weather is hot enough. He runs fast enough.
too + adjective / adverb + to do something It’s too early to go to work. It’s too small.	adjective / adverb + enough + to do something It’s early enough to go to work. It’s small .
too + adjective + for sb + infinitive The soup is too salty for her to eat.	enough + noun The soup has enough salt.
too + much, many She poured too much juice. She has too many clothes.	verb + enough She poured enough juice. She has enough clothes.
too + much / many + of + pronoun / article She’s heard too many of her stories. He’s too much of a gentleman for that.

too

enough

Sentence Structure

too + adjective / adverb

The weather is too hot.
He runs too fast.

adjective / adverb + enough

The weather is hot enough.
He runs fast enough.

too + adjective / adverb + to do something

It’s too early to go to work.
It’s too small.

adjective / adverb + enough + to do something

It’s early enough to go to work.
It’s small .

too + adjective + for sb + infinitive

The soup is too salty for her to eat.

enough + noun

The soup has enough salt.

too + much, many

She poured too much juice.
She has too many clothes.

verb + enough

She poured enough juice.
She has enough clothes.

too + much / many + of + pronoun / article

She’s heard too many of her stories.
He’s too much of a gentleman for that.

Too vs Enough

When do we use “too” and “enough”?