1. The shelf is ____ high for me to reach.
Answer & explanation
too
The shelf is too high for me to reach.
Too means excessive for the purpose. Enough means sufficient. Use adjective/adverb + enough, but enough + noun.
THE IDEA, SIMPLY
The rule, with an example
Too + adjective or adverb means more than is suitable for the purpose. Enough means sufficient: use adjective/adverb + enough, but enough + noun. Too is not simply a stronger way to say very.
SEE IT IN CONTEXTThe print is too small to read. It is not large enough. We need enough space for a larger version.
Skills to work on in this practice
- Distinguish excessive from sufficient
- Place enough correctly
- Explain why an action is or is not possible
Choose the meaning, then the word order
| Use | Example | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| More than suitable | The room is too noisy to record in. | The noise prevents the intended task. |
| Sufficient quality | The room is quiet enough to record in. | Enough follows the adjective quiet. |
| Sufficient amount | We have enough time to record. | Enough comes before the noun time. |
| Countable quantity | There are too many interruptions. | Use many with the plural countable noun interruptions. |
| Uncountable quantity | There is too much noise. | Use much with uncountable noise. |
Common mistake
Check: The room is enough quiet.
Use: The room is quiet enough.
Put enough after an adjective, but before a noun: quiet enough; enough quiet space.
How should I practise this?
Read the example and explain the choice before answering. After the exercise, write a new sentence using the same pattern. Revisit any answer you could not explain, even if you guessed correctly.
MORE PRACTICE · SAME TOPIC
Your four practice sets
4 sets · 40 exercises · about 50–70 minutes with writing and review.
10 scored questions, 20 sentence exercises and 10 writing challenges. Time depends on your pace. Start with the quiz or choose the practice you need.
Your scored quiz and self-reviewed exercises are tracked separately on this device.
Questions 1–5 build confidence; 6–10 check transfer and detail. Use Practice for feedback after each answer, or Test yourself to check at the end.
Practise, then understand your answers
10 questions · 10 XP per correct answer · explanations included
Answer every question to see your score.0 / 10 answered
Question 1
The bag weighs more than I can carry. It is ___ heavy for me.
- enough
- too
- heavy enough
Answer & explanation
too. Too heavy means the weight exceeds what the speaker can carry. It describes a problem or limit, not just a high degree.
Question 2
The text is clear and I can read it comfortably. It is ___.
- enough large
- too large
- large enough
Answer & explanation
large enough. Enough follows the adjective: large enough. The context says it meets the need, not that it is excessive.
Question 3
We have four seats for four people. We have ___ seats.
- enough
- too
- seats enough
Answer & explanation
enough. Enough goes before the noun: enough seats. The available number meets the need.
Question 4
There are 20 tasks and only five minutes. There are ___ tasks to finish in that time.
- too much
- too many
- many enough
Answer & explanation
too many. Tasks is plural and countable, so use too many. Too much would go with an uncountable noun.
Question 5
Which sentence preserves the meaning of “It is too cold to swim comfortably”?
- It is not warm enough to swim comfortably.
- It is warm enough to swim comfortably.
- It is not too cold to swim comfortably.
Answer & explanation
It is not warm enough to swim comfortably.. Not warm enough expresses insufficient warmth. The other two sentences suggest the temperature allows comfortable swimming.
Question 6
The coffee is ___ hot to drink.
- many
- too
- enough
Answer & explanation
too. Too before an adjective means the degree prevents the intended action.
Question 7
She is tall ___ to reach the shelf.
- enough
- too
- such
Answer & explanation
enough. Enough follows an adjective: tall enough.
Question 8
We don’t have ___ time to finish.
- too
- so
- enough
Answer & explanation
enough. Enough comes before a noun such as time.
Question 9
Choose the correct sentence.
- The bag is enough heavy to me carry.
- The bag is too heavy for me to carry.
- The bag is heavy too for me carry.
Answer & explanation
The bag is too heavy for me to carry.. Use too plus adjective, then for plus person and a to-infinitive.
Question 10
“The room is warm enough” means what?
- Its warmth meets the need.
- It is necessarily uncomfortably hot.
- It is definitely too cold.
Answer & explanation
Its warmth meets the need.. Enough means sufficient; it does not mean excessive.
SET 2 OF 4 · 10–15 minutes
Build the pattern
Complete the missing words, then compare the expected form. More than one natural answer may be possible; use the cue and explanation.
2. This chair is strong ____ to hold the box.
Answer & explanation
enough
This chair is strong enough to hold the box.
Too means excessive for the purpose. Enough means sufficient. Use adjective/adverb + enough, but enough + noun.
3. We have ____ money to buy the tickets.
Answer & explanation
enough
We have enough money to buy the tickets.
Too means excessive for the purpose. Enough means sufficient. Use adjective/adverb + enough, but enough + noun.
4. The music is ____ loud for us to talk comfortably.
Answer & explanation
too
The music is too loud for us to talk comfortably.
Too means excessive for the purpose. Enough means sufficient. Use adjective/adverb + enough, but enough + noun.
5. She didn’t speak clearly ____ for me to understand.
Answer & explanation
enough
She didn’t speak clearly enough for me to understand.
Too means excessive for the purpose. Enough means sufficient. Use adjective/adverb + enough, but enough + noun.
6. There are ____ many people in this lift.
Answer & explanation
too
There are too many people in this lift.
Too means excessive for the purpose. Enough means sufficient. Use adjective/adverb + enough, but enough + noun.
7. You are old ____ to apply.
Answer & explanation
enough
You are old enough to apply.
Too means excessive for the purpose. Enough means sufficient. Use adjective/adverb + enough, but enough + noun.
8. I don’t have ____ information to decide.
Answer & explanation
enough
I don’t have enough information to decide.
Too means excessive for the purpose. Enough means sufficient. Use adjective/adverb + enough, but enough + noun.
9. He drove ____ fast to stop safely.
Answer & explanation
too
He drove too fast to stop safely.
Too means excessive for the purpose. Enough means sufficient. Use adjective/adverb + enough, but enough + noun.
10. The soup is cool ____ to eat now.
Answer & explanation
enough
The soup is cool enough to eat now.
Too means excessive for the purpose. Enough means sufficient. Use adjective/adverb + enough, but enough + noun.
SET 3 OF 4 · 10–15 minutes
Check the details
Complete the missing words, then compare the expected form. More than one natural answer may be possible; use the cue and explanation.
1. There is ____ much sugar in this cake for my taste.
Answer & explanation
too
There is too much sugar in this cake for my taste.
Too means excessive for the purpose. Enough means sufficient. Use adjective/adverb + enough, but enough + noun.
2. The corridor is wide ____ for two people to pass.
Answer & explanation
enough
The corridor is wide enough for two people to pass.
Too means excessive for the purpose. Enough means sufficient. Use adjective/adverb + enough, but enough + noun.
3. We arrived ____ late to see the beginning.
Answer & explanation
too
We arrived too late to see the beginning.
Too means excessive for the purpose. Enough means sufficient. Use adjective/adverb + enough, but enough + noun.
4. Are there ____ cups for everyone?
Answer & explanation
enough
Are there enough cups for everyone?
Too means excessive for the purpose. Enough means sufficient. Use adjective/adverb + enough, but enough + noun.
5. She worked quickly ____ to meet the deadline.
Answer & explanation
enough
She worked quickly enough to meet the deadline.
Too means excessive for the purpose. Enough means sufficient. Use adjective/adverb + enough, but enough + noun.
6. The bag is ____ small to hold everything.
Answer & explanation
too
The bag is too small to hold everything.
Too means excessive for the purpose. Enough means sufficient. Use adjective/adverb + enough, but enough + noun.
7. The instructions are clear ____ for a beginner.
Answer & explanation
enough
The instructions are clear enough for a beginner.
Too means excessive for the purpose. Enough means sufficient. Use adjective/adverb + enough, but enough + noun.
8. There isn’t ____ space for another desk.
Answer & explanation
enough
There isn’t enough space for another desk.
Too means excessive for the purpose. Enough means sufficient. Use adjective/adverb + enough, but enough + noun.
9. He is ____ young to drive legally.
Answer & explanation
too
He is too young to drive legally.
Too means excessive for the purpose. Enough means sufficient. Use adjective/adverb + enough, but enough + noun.
10. The room is quiet ____ for recording.
Answer & explanation
enough
The room is quiet enough for recording.
Too means excessive for the purpose. Enough means sufficient. Use adjective/adverb + enough, but enough + noun.
SET 4 OF 4 · 20–30 minutes
Use it yourself
Write an original answer for each task. Review the guidance to check your work. These are self-review tasks, not automatic grammar grading.
1. Describe a physical obstacle that prevents an action.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Use too + adjective + to-infinitive.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
2. Describe a sufficient quality that makes an action possible.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Use adjective + enough + to-infinitive.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
3. Describe a sufficient number of objects.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Put enough before the plural noun.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
4. Describe an insufficient amount of time.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Use not enough time.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
5. Write about someone speaking insufficiently clearly.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Place enough after the adverb clearly.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
6. Write a sentence with too many.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Use a plural countable noun.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
7. Write a sentence with too much.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Use an uncountable noun.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
8. Transform too short to reach into a sentence with not tall enough.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Preserve the meaning while changing the adjective and structure.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
9. Describe a task that is too difficult for a named person.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Use for + person before the to-infinitive.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
10. Explain why enough tall and too enough need correction.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Enough follows an adjective; too and enough have different roles and should not be combined in that way.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Printable practice
Print this lesson’s original questions with a separate answer key. Use the worksheet for another round without looking at the explanations.
BEYOND MULTIPLE CHOICE
Can you use it yourself?
Try these two tasks before opening the answers. They practise explanation and writing; they do not change your quiz score.
1. Explain or repair
Repair: The bag is enough light to carry.
Check the reasoning
The bag is light enough to carry. Enough follows an adjective; it comes before a noun, as in enough space.
2. Make the meaning
Say that a box cannot fit because it is too wide; then use not…enough with the opening.
Compare a possible answer
The box is too wide to fit. The opening is not wide enough for the box. The first exceeds a limit; the second lacks sufficient width.
Other wording may be correct. Compare the meaning and verb pattern, not just the words.
RELATED PRACTICE
So and such exercises
Choose the pattern that fits an adjective, an adverb or a noun phrase.