Introduction
The words too and enough are used to talk about degree. They indicate whether a certain quality or quantity is excessive, sufficient, or insufficient for a particular purpose. This purpose is often expressed using a to-infinitive (e.g., to run, to see, to buy).
1. Using "Too" with Infinitives
Meaning: "Too" means more than necessary, more than desirable, or excessively. It has a negative connotation, suggesting a problem or a reason why something is not possible.
Structure: The infinitive always follows the adjective or adverb that "too" modifies.
A. Too + Adjective / Adverb
The main structure is:
$too + adjective/adverb + (for someone/something) + to-infinitive$
* The (for someone/something) part is optional. It specifies who or what is affected.
Examples with Adjectives:
* The coffee is too hot to drink. (It is so hot that I cannot drink it.)
* He is too young to vote. (He is so young that he is not allowed to vote.)
* The box was too heavy for me to lift. (It was so heavy that I couldn't lift it.)
* This question is too difficult for the students to answer. (It is so difficult that the students cannot answer it.)
Examples with Adverbs:
* She was driving too quickly to see the stop sign. (She was driving so quickly that she couldn't see it.)
* He spoke too quietly for us to hear him. (He spoke so quietly that we couldn't hear him.)
2. Using "Enough" with Infinitives
Meaning: "Enough" means sufficient or the right amount. It has a positive or neutral connotation, suggesting that a condition is met, making an action possible.
Structure: The structure with "enough" is different depending on whether it's used with an adjective/adverb or a noun.
A. Adjective / Adverb + Enough
Crucial Rule: "Enough" comes AFTER the adjective or adverb it modifies.
The structure is:
$adjective/adverb + enough + (for someone/something) + to-infinitive$
Examples with Adjectives:
* She is old enough to vote. (She has reached the required age, so she can vote.)
* The water is warm enough to swim in. (The water is sufficiently warm, so we can swim.)
* The instructions were clear enough for him to understand. (The instructions were sufficiently clear, so he could understand them.)
Examples with Adverbs:
* You are not driving slowly enough to be safe. (You are driving too fast.)
* He arrived early enough to get a good seat. (He arrived sufficiently early, so he got a good seat.)
B. Enough + Noun
Crucial Rule: "Enough" comes BEFORE the noun it modifies.
The structure is:
$enough + noun + (for someone/something) + to-infinitive$
Examples with Nouns:
* I don't have enough money to buy that car. (I have an insufficient amount of money.)
* Is there enough time to finish the project? (Is the amount of time sufficient?)
* We have enough food for everyone to eat. (The quantity of food is sufficient for everyone.)
Summary of Key Differences
| Feature | Using "Too" | Using "Enough" |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Excessive, more than needed (Negative) | Sufficient, the right amount (Positive/Neutral) |
| Structure with Adj/Adv | too + ADJECTIVE/ADVERB | ADJECTIVE/ADVERB + enough |
| Example with Adj. | He is too short to reach the shelf. | He is tall enough to reach the shelf. |
| Structure with Noun | Not used directly before a noun with this meaning. (We say "too much/many" instead). | enough + NOUN |
| Example with Noun | (e.g., He has too much work to do.) | He has enough time to do the work. |
| Infinitive Purpose | Explains the negative consequence. | Explains the possible result or action. |
Combining Sentences: A Practical Example
You can often combine two simple sentences into one more complex sentence using these structures.
Example 1 (Too):
* Sentence 1: The soup is very hot.
* Sentence 2: We can't eat it.
* Combined: The soup is too hot to eat.
Example 2 (Enough with Adjective):
* Sentence 1: My brother is strong.
* Sentence 2: He can carry that suitcase.
* Combined: My brother is strong enough to carry that suitcase.
Example 3 (Enough with Noun):
* Sentence 1: We have time.
* Sentence 2: We can watch a movie.
* Combined: We have enough time to watch a movie.
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