Grammar Practice in Context - David Bolton, Noel Goodey 1997

83 Too and enough: It’s too small. It isn’t big enough

Quick reference

• Too means ’more than is necessary’. It doesn’t mean the same as very. It always has a negative meaning. / can’t sleep. It’s too hot.

Very can have a positive or negative meaning. She's very rich but she’s also very mean.

• We often use too before an adjective or an adverb.

I’m not going to buy it. It’s too expensive. You 're driving too fast. Slow down!

• We often use too in this construction:

• We can also use too much + uncountable noun and too many + countable noun. He eats too much meat and too many chips.

• We can put the words much, far, a little, a lot, a bit before too.

We arrived a bit too late. These jeans are far too big.

• Enough means ’a sufficient number or amount’. ]t normally goes before a noun. There aren't enough chairs. We haven ’t got enough time. Is that enough sugar?

Enough comes after an adjective or an adverb. The water isn’t deep enough.

• We use enough + of before pronouns or words like the, this, my, etc. + noun.

I’ve had enough of this noise. You’ve wasted enough of my time.

• Enough can be used on its own when the noun is understood.

Do you want some more potatoes? - No thanks. I’ve got enough.

• Note the use of enough in these constructions. It's easy enough to understand. The water's warm enough for me to swim. I haven't had enough time to do it.

1 There are some bad drivers on Britain’s motorways. Read the sentences, and re-write each one, keeping a similar meaning. Use too or enough with these adjectives/adverbs: experienced, difficult, close to, fast, carefully.

Example: Some drivers are too careless. Some drivers aren't careful enough.

1 Some people drive too slowly.

2 Some drivers overtake too carelessly.

3 Some people don’t drive far enough away from the car in front.

4 Some drivers are too inexperienced.

5 The present driving test is too easy.

2 Complete these facts about the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, using adjective + enough or enough + noun. Choose from these words: big, early, good, long, balls, money, strawberries, fine days.

* If you get up (1) ... and if you queue for (2) ... you can get tickets.

* Alternatively, if you’ve got (3) ... you can buy tickets on the black market.

* The Centre Court is not (4) ... - it only has 17,000 seats.

* The organisers have to make sure they’ve got (5) ... They need over 22,000.

* They also have to make sure they have (6) ... Over 275,000 portions are eaten each year.

* They can never be sure that there will be (7) ... to play all the matches.

* The eyesight of line judges has to be (8) ... to see exactly where the ball lands, travelling at over 180 kph.

3 Some foreign students at a language school in London were asked ’What’s wrong with Britain?’ Complete their answers, using too + these adjectives: expensive, interested, many, conservative, crowded, kind.

1 ’They’re ... to their animals. In Greece dogs stay outside.’ Stathis Papadaki, Greece

2 ’Everything is ... Everything costs too much.’ Marco Pozzani, Italy

3 ’It’s ... There are ... people on a small island.’ Annika Hedlund. Sweden

4 ’English people are ... in their royal family. There are more important things to read about.’ Dieter Schweizer, Germany

5 ’They’re ... They still use miles and pints.’ Francois Verrier, France

4 Annie and James are sitting on a beach. Annie is bored. James just wants to read. Complete the dialogue using too + adjective + (for + object) + infinitive.

Annie: Shall we walk to the end of the beach?

James: No, it’s ... (1 far/walk). And it’s also ... (2 hot/walk)

Annie: Shall we go for a swim?

James: No, the water’s ... (3 cold/me/swim)

Annie: We could hire one of those sailing boats.

James: No, they’re ... (4 expensive/us/hire)

Annie: We could learn to windsurf.

James: No, I’m ... (5 old/windsurf) and it’s ... (6 difficult/me/learn).

5 A presenter on a radio phone-in programme has asked his listeners to say what they think is wrong with the USA. Complete each sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the previous sentences, using the word given. Do not change the word given.

Example: Children can buy drugs. It’s easy. (too) It's too easy for children to buy drugs.

1 Many illegal immigrants get into the USA. The authorities don’t make it difficult. (enough)

The authorities don’t ...

2 Anybody can buy a gun. It’s simple. (too)

It’s ...

3 America’s a rich country. It could help poorer countries more. (enough)

America’s rich ...

4 Laws don’t stop pollution. They aren’t strict. (enough)

Laws aren’t ...

5 Medical care is very expensive. Many people can’t pay for it. (too)

For many people ...