Video Transcript
Section 1
Hello, I’m Emma from English!
- I’m too hungry to concentrate!
- You’re good enough to start a conversation in English!
- I haven’t got enough time.
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use theselittle, useful words correctly in English sentences.
Too andenough.Both of these words indicate a degree.They give us more information aboutan adjective or an adverb or a noun.
- I’m too hungry to concentrate!
So, here ‘too’ means that it is more than what is wanted or what is needed.So, it’s usually a negative thing!You are more hungry than you want to be! This is really frustrating for you because you can’t concentrate!
- You’re good enough to start a conversation in English!
So here, ‘enough’ tells us that it is the amount that we want or we need.It’s the right amount and this is a positive thing!You have what is needed, you are good enough.
- You’re not good enough!
Ouch! That is really mean!
Ouch! That is really mean! ‘Not enough’ means that it is less than the amount that you want or you need.It’s a really negative thing. It’s a pretty mean thing to say.
So, let’s look at the structures for each of these wordswith adjectives and adverbs first.
too + adjective/adverb
So, ‘too’ comes before an adjective or an adverb.
- He’s driving too fast.
- You’re speaking too quickly for me.
- He’s too old to drive.
Remember that using ‘too’ with an adjectiveor an adverb usually suggests that it’s a negative thing.It’s more than what is wanted or needed.So, it’s not correct to say that the movie was ‘too good’when you really enjoyed it!It’s also not correct to say that your friend is ‘too funny’.It sounds really strange to native English speakersbecause it suggests that it’s more than what you wantor what you need it to be.Use ‘really’ or ‘very’ or ‘so’ instead.
- Your friend is so funny!
- The movie was really good!
That sounds better!
There are some exceptions to this though,when you’re speaking colloquially– especially in Australia, where I’m from!Like… For example, if someone asked me, “How are you?”
I’d probably say, “Not too bad.”
This is really common in Australia and it means ‘good’but that’s an exception.
adjective/adverb + enough
Okay, what about ‘enough’?‘Enough’ comes after the adjective or the adverb.
- I’m strong enough to lift those boxes.
- It’s warm enough to go for a swim.
- He is entertaining enough to perform on stage.
- You’re here often enough, you might as well live here!
Now, what about when ‘enough’ is usedin a negative sentence?‘Enough’ comes after the adjective or the adverbbut ‘not’ comes before.
- I’m not strong enough to lift those boxes.
And this has the same meaning as ‘I’m too weak’.
- It’s not warm enough to go for a swim.
…Which means ‘it’s too cold’!
too + much/many + noun
You can also use ‘too’ and ‘enough’ with nouns. Use ‘too’ with ‘much’ or ‘many’ and a noun.So again, this means that we have more of the nounthan we want or we need.You would choose ‘many’ if the noun was countable.And you would choose ‘much’ if the noun was uncountable.
- There are too many people here.
- Paul has too much furniture in this room!
- I’ve got too many options, I can’t decide!
- You can never give too much advice.
Now, if you are not sure aboutwhich nouns are countable and which are uncountable,you should check out this lesson right herebecause I’ll explain it for you there!
enough + noun
So, what about ‘enough’?Well, with a noun ‘enough’ comes before the noun.Again, this means that we have the right amount,the amount that we want and that we need.
- I have enough time.
- There are enough seats in the car, you should come!
- We have enough money, let’s buy it!
And to make these sentences negative we add ‘not’ –usually before the main verb.
- I have notenough time.
- She didn’t earn enough money.
- We haven’t made enough food.
- There aren’t enough people here.
The ‘be’ verb is a bit of an exception here, to the rule.The structure is a little different.When the ‘be’ verb is the main verb, then ‘not’ comes after the main verb.
So, these handy little words will definitely help you toexpress yourself more clearly in Englishand now you know exactly how to use them correctly.
Make sure you practise them.Write some examples if you want,add them in the comments below!
Remember that ‘too’means that it’s more than the necessary amount.
‘Enough’ is the necessary amount, it’s the exact amount.And ‘not enough’ is less than the necessary amount.
And if you’ve managed to make it through this lessonall the way to the endthen you are going to get a special rewardbecause you’re about to find out how you can getmmmEnglish courses for under five dollars!
Now, on Monday the 27th of November(yes, that’s soon!)..You are going to be able to buy all English courseson the mmmEnglish website, for under five dollars.Now, they have never been that low, ever!So, I want you to make the most of it if you can!Go to the website and check it out on Monday the 27th of November.
Practise using my imitation lessons to improve your pronunciationand your English expression when you’re speaking.
They’re all available at huge discounts, only on Monday.So, don’t miss out!
And now, check out that lesson right thereand practise using ‘enough’ and ‘too’with the adjectives that I teach in that lesson.Or, if you want to try something else check out that playlist right there.Keep practising and I will see you again next week! Bye for now!
