Grammar reference and practice 4.2

4.2 ■ (not) as … as, too, enough

(not) as … as

We can use (not) as + adjective + as to compare two people or things. The adjective doesn't change and it always comes between as and as.

• ■as … as shows that two people or things are the same or equal

  ■not as … as shows that two people or things are not the same or equal

Our dog is as old as yours. (The two dogs are the same age.)

Danny isn't as funny as Ben. (One of the two boys is funnier than the other.)

Is this necklace as expensive as that bracelet?

too + adjective

We use too + adjective to describe something that is more than is necessary, or is not acceptable.

They didn't buy the house because it was too expensive. (It cost more money than they wanted to pay.)

The adjective always comes after too.

The infinitive form of the verb can also follow too + adjective.

We were too tired to run.

(not +) adjective + enough

We use adjective + enough to describe something that is as good, big, fast, etc. as is necessary.

Is your room warm enough? (= Do you need more heating?)

The adjective always comes before enough.

NOT enough warm

We can add not before adjective + enough to make a negative.

I can't get to sleep. I'm not tired enough.

The infinitive form of the verb can also follow adjective + enough.

Is he old enough to go to university?

1Write sentences with as … as and not as … as. 

You need to use normal letters and capital letters correctly in this task. You also need to use correct punctuation.

• 1a cottage / a mansion (not big)

• 2Buckingham Palace / the Tower of London (well-known)

• 3bicycles / sports cars (not expensive)

• 4musicians / actors (popular)

• 5a 10,000-metre (race) / a 100-metre race (not fast)

• 6a lake / an ocean (not deep)

• 7the Sahara Desert in Africa / the Gobi in Asia (dry)

• 8Mount Fiji / Mount Everest (not high)

• 9skiing / skating (dangerous)

• 10the moon / the sun (not far from Earth)

 2Choose the correct words. 

• 1At Christmas, the shops are crowded enoughtoo crowded.

• 2My wardrobe isn't big enoughtoo big to put all my clothes in. I need a larger one!

• 3These days, everything is tooenough expensive.

• 4Is the meat ready? Is it enough tendertender enough?

• 5We never use those chairs because they are not enoughtoo uncomfortable to sit on.

• 6Processed food has got too muchenough sugar and salt in it. It's not healthy.

• 7I'm very tired. The bus journey was too longnot long enough.

• 8The book I need is on the top shelf. I'm not tall enoughtoo tall to reach it.

• 9I can't hear you. Please turn down the music. It's tooenough loud.

• 10What time is it? Six o'clock? It's enough earlytoo early to get up!