Understanding 'Enough' and 'Too': Usage and Differences in English

Example: Enough

I'm 18 years old now. I am old enough to drive.

Note: The words in bold indicate that the person is the necessary age to drive. It means the person is the age needed to drive.

Example: Too

John, you need to slow down. You are driving too fast.

Note: The words in bold indicate that John is driving faster than is needed or necessary. He needs to slow down.

Structure for Enough

Adjective/adverb + enough

Example:

I think I am strong enough to lift this on my own.

The zebra ran quickly enough to escape from the lion.

Another Structure for Enough

Enough + noun

Example:

I have enough money to buy the car I like.

Structure for Too

Too + adjective

Example:

This car is too old. Let's buy another one.

Things to Note

Compare enough and too:

This bed is big enough. = It is a good size for me.

This bed is not big enough. = It needs to be bigger.

This bed is too big. = It needs to be smaller.

Things to Note

We can use enough without a noun if we mention the noun before or if we know what the person is talking about:

done: "I'm going to buy some more wine for the guests. "

Paul: "No, we have enough." (= we have enough wine).

Things to Note

We can use much and many with too. Much is for uncountable nouns, many is for countable nouns:

Example:

I ate too much ice cream today. I feel really sick now.

There were too many people at the beach today. We couldn't sit down anywhere.

Things to Note

Very often, we use for

somebody/something (noun) with enough and too:

Example:

Our school doesn't have enough space for the children.

That t-shirt is too big for you.

Things to Note

Very often, we use to do (verb) something with enough and too:

Example:

The weather isn't warm enough to have a picnic today.

She is too young to drink alcohol.