Question 1

What is the difference between "too" and "very"?

Accepted Answer

"Very" simply intensifies an adjective without implying a consequence: "The exam was very difficult" states a fact — it was hard, but the speaker might still have passed. "Too" always implies a negative result: "The exam was too difficult" means the speaker could not pass it or found it unreasonably hard. This distinction matters in writing because using "too" when you mean "very" changes the meaning entirely. "She is very young" is neutral, while "She is too young" implies she cannot do something because of her age. For Cambridge B2 and C1 exams, choosing correctly between "too" and "very" shows precise control of meaning.

Question 2

Can I use "enough" with verbs and adverbs?

Accepted Answer

"Enough" works with adjectives, adverbs, nouns, and verbs. With adjectives and adverbs, it comes after: "fast enough," "carefully enough." With nouns, it comes before: "enough patience," "enough resources." With verbs, it comes after: "I haven't practised enough," "She doesn't sleep enough." The verb pattern is the one learners forget most often because textbooks focus on the adjective and noun patterns. A useful test sentence: "Have you revised enough for the exam?" In this case, "enough" modifies the verb "revised" and means "a sufficient amount of revising." This flexibility makes "enough" one of the most versatile degree words in English.

Question 3

What common mistakes do advanced learners make with "too" and "enough"?

Accepted Answer

The most frequent advanced-level mistake is using "too" when "very" is meant. "The film was too long" implies you could not finish it, while "The film was very long" is neutral. Another error is placing "enough" before the adjective instead of after: "enough clear" should be "clear enough." Third, learners forget "for + person" when specifying who is affected: "The print was too small to read" is general, but "The print was too small for my grandmother to read" is specific. Finally, in academic writing, students sometimes double-mark the negative: "The results were not too insufficient" should be "The results were not good enough" or simply "The results were insufficient."

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