Using Enough
Place enough correctly with nouns, adjectives, and adverbs to express sufficient quantity or degree.
Learning Objective
Using Enough
Use enough before nouns and after adjectives or adverbs.
Clear Explanation
Enough means as much or as many as needed. Put it before a noun but after an adjective or adverb.
Form and Structure
enough + noun; adjective/adverb + enough; enough + to-infinitive
“We have enough chairs.”
Not enough expresses insufficiency. Compare The bag is not big enough with The bag is too small; the viewpoints differ but the practical result may be similar.
Meaning and Use
Before nouns
Enough comes before both countable and uncountable nouns.
“Do we have enough time?”
After adjectives and adverbs
Place enough after the word it modifies.
“He didn’t run quickly enough.”
Result with to
Use adjective + enough + to-infinitive to show sufficient degree for an action.
“The child is old enough to travel alone.”
Common Errors and Meaning Traps
We have money enough.
We have enough money.
Place enough before a noun.
The water is enough warm.
The water is warm enough.
Place enough after an adjective.
She is enough tall to reach it.
She is tall enough to reach it.
Use adjective + enough before the to-infinitive.
Guided Practice
Use the grammar in context
“The room is warm enough.”
“She spoke clearly enough for everyone to understand.”
Write one sentence with enough + noun, one with adjective + enough, and one with not enough.
Quick Recap
Enough means as much or as many as needed. Put it before a noun but after an adjective or adverb.
Enough comes before both countable and uncountable nouns.
Not enough expresses insufficiency. Compare The bag is not big enough with The bag is too small; the viewpoints differ but the practical result may be similar.
Place enough before a noun.
Independent Mastery Check
Complete these four checks before taking the quiz. If one feels difficult, return to the matching section and try again.
Explain the core rule in your own words without looking back at the lesson.
Find the target form in “We have enough chairs.” and explain what it communicates in this context.
Explain why “We have enough money.” is the recommended revision for “We have money enough.”.
Write one sentence with enough + noun, one with adjective + enough, and one with not enough.
Continue at A1-A2 Level
Aim for at least 5 out of 6 in the quiz below. For every missed answer, read the explanation, return to the relevant section, and try the quiz again.
Which statement best explains Using Enough?
Now Put It Into Practice — Out Loud
Reading grammar is step one. Saying it fluently is step two. Cambridge Veritas AI analyses your speaking in real time — pronunciation, fluency, grammar, and vocabulary.
4,500+ students assessed · 87 countries · Start free
📚 Know someone learning English? Share this lesson with them!
WhatsApp