enough + nounWith nouns, enough comes first: enough time, enough money, enough chairs.
Enough
A2Use enough before nouns and after adjectives. Add to + verb when you say what is possible because the amount or quality is sufficient.
What you'll learn
- Put enough before a noun.
- Put enough after an adjective.
- Add to + verb after enough to show what is possible.
- Choose enough when something is sufficient for a need.
- Fix common word-order mistakes with enough.
Structure
adjective + enoughWith adjectives, enough comes after the adjective: big enough, warm enough.
adjective + enough + to + verb / enough + noun + to + verbUse to + verb after enough when you say what the sufficient amount or quality makes possible.
Build a sentence
Subject
Word group
Annahasenoughmoney
Anna has enough money for lunch.
With nouns, put enough before the noun.
When to use
Sufficient amount
Use enough with money, time, food, chairs, or space when the quantity meets the need.
Sufficient quality
Use adjective + enough when a person or thing has the right quality for an action: warm enough, old enough, fast enough.
Possible result
Add to + verb when you explain what the sufficient amount or quality allows: enough money to travel, strong enough to lift it.
Common mistakes
Wrong
We have chairs enough for twenty people.
Correct
We have enough chairs for twenty people.
With nouns, enough goes before the noun.
Wrong
This apartment is enough quiet to work in.
Correct
This apartment is quiet enough to work in.
With adjectives, enough comes after the adjective, not before it.
Wrong
Leo is old enough drive.
Correct
Leo is old enough to drive.
Use to before the next verb after enough when you describe what is possible.
Wrong
They need money enough for a taxi.
Correct
They need enough money for a taxi.
A noun phrase uses enough + noun, not noun + enough.
Common misconceptions
❝ Enough always goes in the same place in a sentence. ❞
No. It goes before nouns but after adjectives: enough water, warm enough.
❝ After enough, the next verb can stay in the base form. ❞
Use to + verb: old enough to vote, enough time to finish.
Skills in this rule (5)
ENOUGH_BEFORE_NOUNw5Put enough before a noun
Use enough directly before a noun to show the amount is sufficient. It can modify countable or uncountable nouns.
ADJECTIVE_THEN_ENOUGHw5Put enough after an adjective
With adjectives, place enough after the adjective, not before it. The adjective describes the quality that is sufficient.
TO_AFTER_ENOUGHw5Use to + verb after enough to show the result
After adjective + enough or enough + noun, add to + base verb when you say what the amount or quality makes possible.
USE_ENOUGH_FOR_SUFFICIENT_AMOUNTw4Use enough to mean the amount or quality is sufficient
Choose enough when the message is positive in meaning: the amount or quality meets the need. It often answers the idea of 'Is it sufficient?'
SPOT_COMMON_ENOUGH_ERRORSw4Find and fix common enough word-order errors
Check whether enough is before the noun, after the adjective, and followed by to before another verb.