Too, very, enough
This session has been all about expressing degree in English. Too, very, and enough are three key words we use for this. In 6 Minute Grammar, Rob and Catherine will help you understand how they’re used and what they mean.
In this episode. Rob and Catherine are clothes shopping. Catherine’s going to a party and she needs something to wear. Here’s a question for while you listen: Does Catherine buy a dress?
Catherine
Hello. Welcome to 6 Minute Grammar with me, Catherine.
Rob
And me, Rob. Hello.
Catherine
Today’s programme is all about describing things.
Rob
That’s right. We’re going to explain how to use the words too and very with adjectives to describe things.
Catherine
We are, and we’ll show you how to use the word enough with adjectives and nouns…
Rob
…we’ll explain the difference between too much and too many…
Catherine
And we’ll finish with a quiz – so listen carefully.
Rob
And to help us with all our example sentences today we’re bringing you this episode of 6 Minute Grammar from a clothes shop.
Catherine
Yes, we’re clothes shopping!
Rob
We are, well, Catherine’s clothes shopping.
Catherine
I’m going to a party. Rob, look, this blue dress – I love it – do you?
Rob
It’s not really my colour.
Catherine
You’re not going to wear it Rob. Actually… it’s too big. Oooh – this one’s nice – what do you think Rob?
Rob
It’s a bit short isn’t it.
Catherine
Mmmm… It’s too small.
Rob
Too big… too small. Catherine used the word too here with the adjectives big and small to say that that the dress is not right – it’s bigger or smaller than she wants or needs.
Catherine
Right! Rob! Found one – red one, look. What do you think?
Rob
I do like the colour. It suits you.
Catherine
It is lovely but… it’s very expensive!
Rob
Yes, [whistles] £150. I see what you mean… So, we use very with an adjective to make it stronger. The red dress is not just expensive – it’s very expensive.
Catherine
Very, very expensive. But look! Green one, look at this green one, it’s cheaper – and it looks big enough. What do you think, Rob?
Rob
It does suit you and it’s cheaper. Let’s take it before you change your mind… Do you have enough money?
Catherine
Do I have enough money?! Are you serious? Yes, of course…
Rob
Let’s see your purse then. So, the word enough with an adjective describes the right amount of something. So, the green dress is big enough – and long enough. We’ve found it! We’ve got the dress! Hooray!
Catherine
Er Rob… Actually, I don’t have enough cash on me… and I’ve left my credit card in the office… I don’t suppose… would you mind…?
Rob
What are you saying…? Okay okay… How much is it? …so we can also use enough before a noun to say that we have the right amount of something: so we can ask: Do you have enough money? …and we can also use enough in the negative to say we have less of something than we need. Catherine doesn’t have enough cash.
Catherine
Thank you Rob. You’re very generous.
Rob
OK, time for a recap. We use too before an adjective:
Catherine
The blue dress is too small.
Rob
Very goes before an adjective…
Catherine
The red dress is very expensive.
Rob
Enough goes after an adjective…
Catherine
This dress is big enough.
Rob
And enough goes before a noun…
Catherine
I don’t have enough money.
Rob
Let’s go. I’ve done enough shopping for today.
Catherine
OK, come on.
IDENT
6 Minute Grammar, from BBC Learning English.
Rob
Phew… We’re back in the studio. It’s just like magic isn’t it! And Catherine, you got the dress so, how was the party?
Catherine
Well, it was great except… I ate too much food… and…
Rob
…yes?
Catherine
…there were too many people wearing my dress!
Rob
Oh, that’s a pity. So this is too with much and many to talk about an amount or number of something that’s more or less than we want or need.
Catherine
Yes, I ate more food than I needed.
Rob
…and it’s a pity there were too many green dresses. So, for plural countable nouns like dresses, we use too many – too many dresses, too many people.
Catherine
Yes, and for uncountable nouns like food and money, we use too much.
Rob
…and Catherine ate too much food…
Catherine
…and the red dress cost too much money.
Rob
It did, luckily. Now, be careful not to use very with strong adjectives. You cannot say the party was very fantastic…
Catherine
Instead, say: the party was absolutely fantastic!
Rob
But not for you! And now, it’s time for a quiz! Fill the gaps. Number one. I can’t hear you – there’s too [beep] noise.
Catherine
And the answer is: I can’t hear you – there’s too much noise.
Rob
Good. Number two. Hiro is only 13. He’s not old [beep] to drive yet.
Catherine
Hiro is only 13. He’s not old enough to drive yet.
Rob
And Number three. Those shoes don’t fit me. They are [beep] small.
Catherine
Those shoes don’t fit me. They are too small.
Rob
So, no more parties, then?
Catherine
…Well actually Rob, there’s one coming up this weekend and… I saw a lovely pair of blue shoes, they’re not too expensive…
Rob
You’ve got time to go and get your credit card for this one – I’m not paying! There’s more about this on our website at www.bbc-story.com. Join us again for more 6 Minute Grammar soon.
Both
Bye.
So, Catherine managed to get a dress in the end! But she had to try on some dresses that were too big. She found one that was big enough – but it was too expensive. And she didn’t have enough money for another one. Luckily though, Rob was there to lend her some cash!
End of Session 2
This session is over! We hope it wasn’t too long for you and that it was easy enough to understand. Join us in Session 3 where you can read an article about housing problems in London and see too, very and enough in action. And Alice will be back with a useful pronunciation tip for you!
Grammar Reference
Too much / too many / enough / not enough / very
Meaning and use
In English, we can use too, enough and very with adjectives to indicate degree. Too describes something negative or unwanted, enough describes the right amount of something, and very makes the adjective stronger.
Matthew: Those shoes were very nice. Did you buy them?
Simon: No, I didn’t. They were too expensive.
Jenny: Did you buy that dress?
Sally: No, I didn’t. It wasn’t big enough.
We can also use too with much and many to talk about an amount or number of something which is more or less than what we want or need. For countable nouns, such as ‘apples’ or ‘people’, we use many. For uncountable nouns, like ‘rice’ or ‘water’, we use much.
There are too many people on the bus.
There is too much salt in this soup.
Form
For degree, we use too + adjective.
For amount or number, the order is too + many/much + noun.
It’s too hot in here.
James ate too much pizza.
Too many people came to the theatre.
Enough comes after an adjective or before a noun:
adjective + enough
enough + noun
My handwriting is good enough.
His car isn’t fast enough.
We have enough food.
I don’t have enough money.
Very comes before adjectives and makes them stronger:
very + adjective
not very + adjective
That test was very difficult.
The weather’s not very nice today.
Positive
There are too many people in the pool.
We have enough money to buy a house.
Negative
There aren’t enough tickets for the show.
That meal wasn’t too expensive.
Question
Are you comfortable enough?
Are there enough chairs for everyone?
Take note: strong adjectives
We do not use very if the adjective is already strong. These examples are wrong:
The pianist was very excellent.
The Grand Canyon is very enormous.
Her response was very correct.
These are correct:
That movie was incredible.
Her performance was dreadful.
The weather’s perfect.
Spoken English
The word enough is pronounced with the short vowel sound /ʌ/ (as in cup) and the voiceless sound /f/ (as in fat) at the end.
I don’t have enough /ɪnʌf/money.