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This is an activity to practice “too and enough” through a gap fill and then a discussion based on pictures.
You will need the following handouts:
Story, grammar explanation and gap-fill:
Pictures for discussion:
Part 1: Warmer Discussion
Write on the board:
“Footballers earn too much money.”
“Teachers don’t earn enough money.”
Have students discuss the two sentences.
Part 2: Listening to a story
Read the following story to students,tell them to write down any uses of too and enough that they hear.
Beach story:
The other day I went to the beach with my family. It was a scorching day, I asked my friend to come but he said it was too hot to go to the beach. We got in the car and drove to the beach. The beach was very crowded.
“Oh no! There are too many people here!” said my Mum.
“Don’t worry, there’s enough space for everyone.” said my Dad.
We unpacked the car and walked down to the beach. We put our towels down and my sister and I decided to go for a swim. We ran to the water and jumped in.
“Brrrrr!” said my sister. “It’s too cold for me!” and she ran back to my Mum and Dad. I continued swimming for a few minutes when suddenly I saw people windsurfing and there was a shop renting windsurfing boards, it looked so much fun. I ran back to my parents and asked them if I could try it.
“I’m not sure.” said my Mum. “Do you think he’s old enough?” she asked my Dad.
“I think he’s old enough, but is he strong enough? I think the sail will be too heavy for you son.”
“Please please please Dad!” I begged.
“Ok, let’s go and see how much it costs.” So we walked down to shop. It cost €20 to rent the board for the whole day.
“Buff!” said my Dad. “I think that’s too expensive, I don’t have enough money to pay that much.” So Dad negotiated and in the end we paid €15 for the day. We took the board out into the water and I tried to lift the sail but it was too heavy.
“Come on son! You’re not trying hard enough!” said my Dad. So I took the sail with both hands and made a big effort. I didn’t want my dad to think I wasn’t strong enough to lift it. The sail came out of the water and the board started moving across the water it was the most amazing feeling! We spent the whole day windsurfing, it was one of the best days of my life.
Part 3: Guided Discovery
Tell students to dictate all of the examples back to you, but them on the board and use them to do a guided discovery of the rules outlined in the handout.
Too and enough indicate degree. They are used with adjectives.
- Too means more than what is needed.
- Enough means sufficient.
Examples
He is too old to play football with the kids.
Dave is intelligent enough to do the right thing.
You’re not working fast enough
I don’t have enough time.
He has too many friends.
Footballers earn too much money.
Use of too and enough
1.Enough precedes adjectives and adverbs:
He isn’t old enough to watch this program.
We’re not walking quickly enough.
2.Enough may also precede nouns:
We have enough money .
I haven’t got enough money to buy this computer.
3.Too comes before adjectives and adverbs:
It’s too hot to wear that coat.
I was driving too fast.
- Too may also come before nouns when it is used with the expressions too much and too many.
- Too much is used before uncountable nouns.
There is too much salt in this food.
- Too many is used before countable nouns
There are too many students in this classroom.
Part 4: Gap fill
Have students complete the gap-fill at the bottom of the handout.
Fill in the correct word (too or enough).
- I left the coffee for a minute to cool because it was hot to drink.
- He wasn’t strong to lift that heavy box.
- There aren’t policemen in our town.
- Do you have information to help me with this problem?
- It is difficult for a little child to do.
- I do not have time to prepare dinner.
- I didn’t buy the car because it was expensive.
- He didn’t work hard to pass the exam.
- My mum can’t sleep because she drinks much coffee.
- She isn’t old to start driving.
Key: 1-too, 2-enough, 3-enough, 4-enough, 5-too, 6-enough, 7-too, 8-enough, 9-too, 10-enough.
Part 5: Picture Discussion (Free production)
Show the pictures in the hand out and have students make as many sentences as possible using the structures. Ask some questions to prompt. Do you think there are too many tourists in the city?
Gap fill credit:
http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-exercise-too-enough.php#.VPWZHfnF8k0
Grammar explanation credit: