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'Too' indicates excess preventing something; 'very' intensifies without implying a negative result; 'enough' means sufficient.
Side-by-side comparison
"Very" reinforces without negative consequences. "Too" implies problematic excess. "Enough" implies the amount is sufficient to achieve something.
The queue was too long, so we decided to come back another day instead of waiting.
He ate too much at dinner and did not feel well for the rest of the evening.
It is too dark in here to read, can you switch on the lamp, please?
Position: "very" and "too" go before the adjective; "enough" goes after. "It's very hot", "It's too hot", "It's hot enough to swim". The order is part of the grammar.
The film was very good. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes thrillers.
She was fast enough to finish the test before the timer ran out, with a few minutes to spare.
The hotel was very clean and the staff were very friendly, we would definitely go back.
Common mistake
Classic errors:
- 1."Very hot" (neutral) vs "too hot" (so hot it causes a problem, you cannot drink it): not interchangeable. Using TOO when you mean VERY sounds as if there is a problem: "The party was too fun" sounds negative.
- 2."Enough experienced to lead" = wrong. ENOUGH goes AFTER the adjective: "EXPERIENCED ENOUGH to lead."
- 3."Too enough" = wrong, two degree adverbs cannot go together.
Trick to remember it
Consequence test: does it imply a NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCE (something that cannot happen)? = TOO. A POSITIVE CONSEQUENCE (something that can happen)? = ENOUGH. Just intensification, no consequence? = VERY. "The room is too small [to fit them]" (they do not fit). "The room is big enough [for them]" (they fit). "The room is very small" (just intensification).
Quick rule
- •Too = excess with implied negative consequence.
- •Very = neutral intensification (no consequence).
- •Enough = sufficient level for positive consequence.
- •Positions: too and very BEFORE the adjective; enough AFTER the adjective.
Did you know?
This phenomenon, where a single L1 word maps to two distinct L2 words, is one of the main generators of errors in second-language acquisition. Linguists call it "conceptual false friends", not false friends in the classic sense (similar form, different meaning), but a single concept in L1 that splits into two in L2.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
The film was _____ long. I couldn't finish it in one evening.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
The film was _____ long, but I enjoyed every minute of it.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
The comparative compares two things; the superlative designates the extreme in a group of three or more.
'To' is the preposition of direction or the infinitive marker; 'too' means also or excessively.
'Too' and 'as well' go at the end of the sentence; 'also' goes before the main verb.
'Too' + adjective indicates excess (prevents something); adjective + 'enough' indicates sufficiency (something is possible).
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy