Too means more than is needed, and enough means as much as is needed. Too goes before an adjective, enough after it: too hot, warm enough. With a noun it's the other way round, and enough comes first: enough money. You can often say the same thing in two ways: The room isn't big enough and The room is too small.
too or enough — can you pick the right one?
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too + adjective/adverb (+ to + verb); too much/many + noun; adjective/adverb + enough (+ to + verb); enough + noun; not + adjective + enough
- This coffee is too hot to drink, so I'll wait a few minutes.
- Is your English good enough to study at a British university?
- We didn't have enough time to visit the museum before our train left.
What changed
First versionThe water was enough warm for swimming, so we stayed on the beach all day.
RevisionThe water was warm enough for swimming, so we stayed on the beach all day.
With an adjective, enough comes after it: warm enough, not enough warm. The words are the same; only the order has changed.
Too doesn't mean very: it suggests that, because of this, something isn't possible. The flat is very expensive, but we can afford it: it's pricey, but we can still rent it. The flat is too expensive for us: we can't rent it.
Your turn
This suitcase is ___ heavy to take on the plane as hand luggage, so I'll check it in.
Show the answer
too — The suitcase has to be checked in, so it's heavier than the limit allows, and you need too. Enough doesn't go before an adjective, and the idea “heavy enough” wouldn't fit here anyway.
Describe a hotel room, flat or office that didn't suit you. Use too and enough and say exactly what was wrong.
The hotel room was too noisy at night, and the desk wasn't big enough for my laptop and notes.
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