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Very, Too, and Enough |
Very is an adverb that intensifies adjectives.
To intensify means to strengthen. Very precedes adjectives and strengthens the
meaning of the adjective which immediately follows it. It precedes adjectives words
referring to time, frequency, quantity, distance, manner, and condition.
Too does not intensify. It has a more specific meaning than very. Too is usually
followed by the infinitive form of the verb and is used when some action, either
expressed by an infinitive or implied, is impossible as the result of the condition
described by the word which follows too.
Native speakers do not always express what is impossible but the use of too
implies the impossibility.
Enough means a sufficient amount. Enough is also followed by the infinitive
and is used when the action expressed by the infinitive is made possible by the situation
described by the word which precedes enough. A negative statement, of course, has the
opposite meaning.
Enough follows the word it modifies, whereas very and too
precede the words they modify. Enough is also used with nouns, in which case
it may precede or follow the word it modifies without any difference in meaning.
In everyday speech it is more common to place enough before the noun rather than after. Take the Quiz. |
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