Enough
A2 · ElementaryDeterminers & QuantifiersEnough means 'as much as needed.' The tricky part isn't the meaning — it's where enough goes in the sentence.
What you'll learn
- Enough + noun: enough comes BEFORE the noun
- Adjective/adverb + enough: enough comes AFTER the adjective or adverb
- enough...to: use enough with to for saying what something is sufficient for
- Not enough / enough negation follows the same word order rules
The core idea
Enough means 'as much or as many as needed' — not too little, not necessarily more than needed either, just the right amount. The meaning is simple. The word order is the part to watch.
Enough + noun: enough goes first
When enough describes a noun, it comes before that noun, just like other quantity words such as some or a lot of.
"We have enough time." — enough before the noun time.
"There isn't enough food for everyone." — enough before the noun food.
Adjective/adverb + enough: enough goes second
This is the rule that reverses on people: when enough describes an adjective or an adverb, it comes AFTER that word, not before it. This is the opposite order from enough with a noun.
"Is she old enough to vote?" — old enough, not enough old.
"He didn't run fast enough to win." — fast enough, not enough fast.
Enough...to: saying what it's sufficient for
Enough often pairs with to + verb to explain the purpose or result — what there is (or isn't) enough for.
"It's warm enough to swim." — warm enough, followed by to swim.
"We don't have enough money to buy a car." — enough money, followed by to buy a car.
Real English
Watch out
With an adjective, enough goes after it, not before — the opposite order from enough with a noun.
Same rule with adjectives describing a noun via 'be': enough follows the adjective.
With a noun, enough comes before it, not after.
Use to + verb after enough to express purpose or result, not for + verb.
Real life — Packing for a road trip
"Do we have enough gas to make it to the next town?"
"I think so, but let's stop just to be safe — I'm not sure it's enough."
"Good idea. Is the cooler big enough for all this food?"
"Barely! We packed enough snacks for a week, not a weekend."
Practice
Exercise 1 · Choose the correct word order
We don't have ___ to finish this today.
Exercise 2 · Choose the correct word order
Is she old ___ to vote?
Exercise 3 · Choose the correct word order
He didn't run ___ to win the race.
Exercise 4 · Choose the correct word
There isn't ___ chairs for everyone.
Exercise 5 · Choose the correct word
I have ___ money to buy the tickets.
Exercise 6 · Choose the correct word order
This coffee isn't ___ to keep me awake.
Exercise 7 · Fix the mistake
Fix the mistake:
Exercise 8 · Complete the sentence
Complete: We don't have ___ information to decide yet. (one word)
Exercise 9 · Complete the sentence
Complete: She's not old ___ to drive yet. (one word)
Exercise 10 · Build the sentence
Exercise 11 · Choose the correct word order
Which word order is correct?
Quick challenge
Five quick questions to check what stuck.
Question 1 / 5
Score: 0/0
Are you ___ to ride this rollercoaster?
You learned
- Enough + noun: enough comes before the noun (enough time).
- Adjective/adverb + enough: enough comes after the word (old enough, fast enough).
- Enough...to + verb: says what something is sufficient for.
- Don't mix up the two orders — they go in opposite directions.
- Use to, not for, after enough when giving a purpose or result.
Related grammar lessons
Both, Either & Neither
Learn both, either and neither for talking about two things — both for the two together, either for one of the two, and neither for not one nor the other.
All, Every & Each
Learn the difference between all, every and each — all treats a group as one whole, every generalizes about each member, and each emphasizes individuals one by one.
Few and Little
Learn few/a few and little/a little — few and a few for countable nouns, little and a little for uncountable nouns, and how adding 'a' flips the meaning from negative to positive.
No, None & None of
Learn the difference between no (before a noun), none (standing alone), and none of (with a specific group) — plus why English never doubles a negative.