Assuming we are talking quantities here let’s look at these on a scale.
For example, we will look at the temperature of soup.
- This soup is very hot but I will still eat it in a minute.
- This soup is too hot, nobody could eat this
- This soup is hot enough so I will eat it now!
They are all varying degrees of something (such as the temperature of soup)
Another way to explain it would be on a scale of 1-10
If none = 0 and everything = 10 and you have to pick a number :
Very would equal 8.
Too would equal 11.
Enough would equal 5.
Let’s look at a couple more examples:
- I thought he looked very handsome in his suit.
- I thought he looked too scruffy in his suit.
- I thought he looked smart enough in his suit.
- He was running very fast, he still had a chance to win the race.
- He was running too fast, he was going to run out of energy before the end of the race.
- He was running fast enough, he was going to finish the race with no problem.
To sum up, they are used to describe varying degrees of an adjective or indeed a whole situation. Learn them well!
Recommended for you:
Difference Between VERY, QUITE, TOO and SO!
Different Ways to Say “You Are Beautiful!”
How can you treat her so / too badly?
Also – Too – Either – So – Neither – As Well
to, two and too
How to use ‘ENOUGH’ in English?
