Using 'enough'

Using 'enough'

Do you know how to use the word enough? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

Look at these examples to see how enough is used.

She's not old enough to walk yet.
We are not acting fast enough to stop climate change.
I don't read enough.
Is there enough coffee for everyone?
We've had enough of their lies.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Grammar test 1

'enough': Grammar test 1

Read the explanation to learn more.

Grammar explanation

enough means 'as much as necessary'. It can be used with an adjective, an adverb, a verb or a noun. It can also act as a pronoun.

With adjectives and adverbs

enough comes after adjectives and adverbs.

I'm not tall enough to reach the top shelf.
Your marks are good enough to study engineering at university.
I couldn't write quickly enough and I ran out of time.
I've helped at conferences often enough to know what can go wrong.

With verbs

enough comes after verbs.

I make sure I drink enough during the day.
I don't read enough but I'm going to start downloading books to my phone. 

With nouns

enough comes before nouns.

There isn't enough bread to make sandwiches.
Have you got enough money?

As a pronoun

enough can also be used without a noun. 

I'll get some more chairs. There aren't enough.
A: Do you want more coffee? B: No, I've had enough, thanks.

We know what the noun is because of the context.

With an adjective and a noun

When enough is used with an adjective and a noun, two positions are possible but the meaning changes.

We haven't got big enough envelopes. 
We haven't got enough big envelopes.

When enough is after the adjective (big enough envelopes), it describes the adjective – the envelopes are too small. When enough is before the adjective (enough big envelopes), it describes the noun phrase – we have some big envelopes, but we need more.

enough of

We normally only use enough of when it is followed by a determiner or a pronoun (a/an/the, this/that, my/your/his, you/them, etc.).

There isn't enough of that bread to make sandwiches for everyone.
I've seen enough of his work to be able to recommend him.
There's enough of us to make a difference.

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Grammar test 2

'enough': Grammar test 2

Language level

Average: 4.6 (30 votes)

Submitted by Dastenova Firuza on Sat, 04/07/2020 - 18:38

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It seemed to me that Enough tests are easy but while doing tests I felt confused and tests made me think over
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Submitted by Mr.hanymabrok on Sun, 21/06/2020 - 10:39

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Very good training
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Submitted by Karan Narang on Sun, 21/06/2020 - 04:40

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Today I have learned "enough" word which I have understood use of this word. Enough learn to english to get enough knowledge from english.

Submitted by Shishirsharma on Sun, 14/06/2020 - 05:36

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Hello there, It was really a good test but i am confused in test part dropped euro between two cupboards.

Submitted by Vicky Cruz Aruquipa on Tue, 09/06/2020 - 22:22

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at the beginning I found difficult understand the word Enough .I hope doing more practice I will get it.. Thank you so much .To my tutor Anna Rosa .

Submitted by Emily Mellor on Fri, 29/05/2020 - 10:47

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Thanks a lot to British Council Team. My English skills improve because of all your help. Grammar explanations are also clear enough for me. With regards

Submitted by gerardbarrachina on Thu, 23/04/2020 - 18:51

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I had enough time to learn this lesson.

Submitted by aremy on Wed, 15/04/2020 - 19:22

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We are not acting fast enough to stop climate change.
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Submitted by zabiullah on Tue, 14/04/2020 - 15:30

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thanks alot, it is helpful lesson for me. after that, i can use it correctlly and confidenetly. some one wants enough time to get know better but i understand.