Using Too and Not Something Enough

When we are unhappy about something we can complain about it. Complain is the verb and complaint is the noun. The collocation is 'make a complaint' or 'have a complaint'.

Using too

For today's lesson take a look at the picture above. What's wrong with the bed? I'm sure the man has a complaint to make. He can say:

'The bed is too small.'

Too is used to make the following adjective negative. In this case, small takes on a negative meaning.

We often follow up our complaint a reason using to after the adjective:

'The bed is too small to sleep on'.

Using not adjective enough

There is also another way that we can complain using a different form. Again, let's use the picture above:

The bed is not big enough. = NOT + ADJECTIVE + ENOUGH

This sentence has the same meaning as 'the bed is too small'. All we have to do is use the opposite adjective: big - small. Let's look at some other examples:

'My coffee is too cold (to drink)' becomes 'my coffee is not hot enough'.
'The test was too difficult' becomes 'the test was not easy enough'.
'The water is too cool' becomes 'The water is not warm enough'.

using very

It is important to remember that very does not have a fixed negative meaning. Very is used to give strength to the adjective that follows it. Very is neutral; it can be used to make positive sentences:

'I'm very happy with the news.'
'The food was very good.'

Now complete the sentences using too, very, enough or not

Link: How to use 'Unless' and 'As long as''

• It's cold to go swimming in winter.
• Your parents are nice.
• Waiter. My soup is hot enough.
• I am not old to drive.
• The park is far to walk to.
• He moved into a nice apartment in the city. I wish I could afford to live there.
• Can I try on another size? This one is big enough.