English Grammar – Intermediate
“Too and Enough”
Lesson Content

Warm-Up Question:
Discuss these topics with a partner:
- Do you think you get enough sleep every day?
- Is your weekend too short or too long to relax?
- What is the weather like where you live: too hot, too cold, or just right?
Listening in Context:
Last weekend, I stayed at a hotel, and wow, it was an adventure. When I got there, the lobby was too crowded to check in quickly, so I ended up standing in line forever. They just didn’t have enough staff to handle all of the people.
My room was okay, but the air conditioner was too loud for me to sleep, and the bed was comfortable enough, so I was able to survive the night. In the morning, I went down for breakfast, but by the time I got there, there wasn’t enough food left for all the guests. The coffee was too cold to enjoy, but luckily, the staff brought me a fresh cup, and it saved my morning.
All in all, the hotel wasn’t perfect, but the staff were polite to make up for the little problems. I guess a place doesn’t have to be perfect; it needs enough comfort and kindness to make you feel welcome . . . and maybe some coffee that’s hot enough to wake you up!
Grammar Focus
We use too and enough to describe how much or how little of something there is. These words help us explain if a situation is more than necessary (too much) or not sufficient (not enough). Understanding this grammar helps you express limits, problems, abilities, and needs more clearly.
- Too = more than what is acceptable or possible
- Enough = the correct amount or degree, not too little
Sentence Patterns:
- Too + adjective/adverb + (to + verb)
➤ “The music is too loud to focus.”
➤ “He runs too fast for me to keep up.” - Adjective/adverb + enough + (to + verb)
➤ “She is old enough to drive.”
➤ “You didn’t work hard enough to succeed.” - Enough + noun
➤ “There isn’t enough water in the bottle.”
➤ “Do we have enough chairs for the guests?”
Note: Be careful with word order:
- “She’s tall enough to play basketball.” (✅)
- “She’s enough tall to play basketball.” (❌)
This grammar point is useful in many everyday topics like food, time, money, health, studying, and traveling. It helps you describe what is possible, what needs to change, or why something can’t happen.
🗣️Why This Grammar Matters for Listening and Speaking
“Too” and “Enough” are common in natural speech. They help you describe limits, give reasons, offer suggestions, and respond clearly when something is not right or needs to change. These expressions show up in real conversations across many topics—like food, comfort, money, time, or ability.
You may hear:
- “It’s too crowded in here.”
- “We don’t have enough time to finish.”
- “I’m too tired to go out tonight.”
Use them in conversations to:
- Give reasons for actions:
- “I didn’t go out because it was too cold.”
- “We didn’t have enough money for tickets.”
- Make polite suggestions or comments:
- “This room isn’t big enough for 10 people.”
- “That coffee is too strong for me.”
- Ask helpful questions:
- “Do you have enough time to meet today?”
- “Is this coat warm enough?”
Note: This grammar helps you respond quickly and naturally
- “I can’t go. It’s too far.”
- “We’re ready. We have enough people.”
By understanding these short but powerful phrases, you’ll better follow what others say and share your own ideas and limitations in a smooth, confident way.
Let’s Practice
Language Game
Now, practice your language skills with this interactive game.
🎧🗣️ Listening & Speaking Practice Questions
Use “too” or “enough” in your answers. Listen to your classmates and ask follow-up questions like “Why not?” or “What did you do?”
- Feeling Tired or Busy:
- Are you too tired to do anything after class sometimes? What do you do?
➤ For example: “Yes, if I’m too tired to cook, I just order food.”
- Are you too tired to do anything after class sometimes? What do you do?
- Daily Routines:
- Do you usually get enough sleep during the week?
➤ For example: “No, I don’t sleep enough. I sleep only five hours.”
- Do you usually get enough sleep during the week?
- Studying English:
- Do you study English enough every day? Why or why not?
➤ For example: “No, I don’t have enough time to complete my homework.”
- Do you study English enough every day? Why or why not?
- Free Time:
- Is your weekend too short to relax? What would you do with more time?
➤ For example: “Yes, it’s too short. I want to go hiking, but I don’t have enough time.”
- Is your weekend too short to relax? What would you do with more time?
- Food and Shopping:
- Do you usually buy too much or not enough food when you go shopping?
➤ For example: “I often buy too much fruit.” / “I don’t buy enough vegetables.”
- Do you usually buy too much or not enough food when you go shopping?
- Weather Talk:
- Is it ever too hot or too cold to go outside where you live?
➤ For example: “Yes, it’s too hot in summer to go for a walk.”
- Is it ever too hot or too cold to go outside where you live?
- Transportation:
- Is public transportation in your city reliable enough? Why or why not?
➤ For example: “No, it’s not reliable enough. The buses often arrive late.”
- Is public transportation in your city reliable enough? Why or why not?