English UsageGrammar guide
Too vs. Enough
“Too” expresses excess, while “enough” expresses sufficiency. They also occupy different common positions: “too” normally comes before adjectives and adverbs, while “enough” follows them but comes before nouns.
“Too” means more than is acceptable or needed; “enough” means sufficient. Compare “too cold” with “warm enough” and “enough time.”
Key details
Enough Roleas much or as many as needed, or to the necessary degree
Position Boundarytoo normally precedes adjectives/adverbs; enough commonly follows adjectives/adverbs and precedes nouns
Too Rolemore than is wanted, needed, or acceptable in the relevant context
Further guidance
Degree Boundary
Too marks excess; enough marks sufficiency.
Position Boundary
Their positions differ: “too hot” but “hot enough,” while “enough time” places enough before a noun.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Too — English Grammar Today (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Too for excess and its position before adjectives/adverbs
- Enough — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Enough for sufficient quantity or degree and its common positions