Ask Auntie Edna — too / enough (A2)

A2 · TOO / ENOUGH

Ask Auntie Edna

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(you add this)

“You don’t need a doctor, you need a mirror.”

too · too much · too many · (not) enough

Reading

Speaking

STAGE 1 · WARM-UP

The balance test

For each thing in your life, decide: just right, too much, or not enough?

• sleep

• coffee

• free time

• screen time

• exercise

• vegetables

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(you add this)

Compare with a partner.

STAGE 2 · BEFORE YOU READ

Two problems, one Auntie

You’re going to read a magazine problem page. Two readers write to “Auntie Edna” for advice.

PREDICT

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Read only the two titles: “Tired of being tired” and “My flat is eating me”. Guess each person’s problem.

(you add this)

Read and check your guesses.

STAGE 3 · READING

Read — what does Edna advise?

Ask Auntie Edna — your problems, her honest answers

“Tired of being tired”

Dear Edna, I’m always exhausted. I work too much (ten hours a day) and I don’t sleep enough (five hours). I drink too much coffee — six cups! My doctor says I don’t do enough exercise, but I’m too tired for the gym, and too busy to relax at weekends. — Sleepy

Edna says: You don’t need a doctor, you need a mirror. Ten hours is too many. Six coffees is too much. Five hours is not enough sleep. Work eight hours, drink two coffees, walk twenty minutes — you’re never too tired to walk.

“My flat is eating me”

Dear Edna, my problem is things. I have too many clothes, too many books (400!), too many cups, too much furniture. There isn’t enough space! My sister says my flat isn’t big enough. I buy things too quickly. Last week I bought a second guitar — I can’t play the guitar. — Buried

Edna says: The flat is big enough — you simply have too much stuff. One thing in, one thing out. Sell three hundred books and take guitar lessons. You have two guitars.

STAGE 4 · COMPREHENSION

True or false?

• Sleepy works ten hours a day.

• Sleepy drinks six coffees before lunch.

• Edna tells Sleepy to find a better doctor.

• Edna thinks a walk counts as exercise.

• Buried wears all of his clothes.

• Buried’s sister thinks the flat is too small.

• Edna agrees with the sister.

• Edna’s advice to Buried costs a lot of money.

STAGE 5 · TALK ABOUT IT

What do you think?

Discuss with a partner.

Whose problem do you understand better — Sleepy’s or Buried’s? Is there a little “Sleepy” or “Buried” in you?

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(you add this)

Is Auntie Edna’s advice good? Would you add anything?

STAGE 6 · GRAMMAR — NOTICE

Sort the phrases

Find these in the letters and match to the pattern: too much coffee · too many clothes · too tired · don’t sleep enough · not enough space · isn’t big enough · too quickly

pattern

example

too + adjective / adverb

______________

too much + uncountable noun

______________

too many + countable noun

______________

(not) enough + noun

______________

(not) + adjective + enough

______________

verb + enough

______________

Rule: enough goes BEFORE a noun, but AFTER an adjective/adverb. Why is “I’m too much tired” wrong?

STAGE 7 · THE RULES

too / too much / too many · (not) enough

too = more than is good

• too + adjective / adverb: I’m too tired. I buy things too quickly. (not too much tired)

• too much + uncountable: too much coffee · I work too much.

• too many + countable: too many clothes · too many cups.

(not) enough = (not) all that is necessary

• enough + noun: There isn’t enough space.

• adjective / adverb + enough: The flat is big enough.

• verb + enough: I don’t sleep enough.

• Word order: enough goes before a noun, but after an adjective, adverb or verb.

STAGE 8 · PRACTICE

Circle the correct option

1. I ate too much / too many cake at the party.

2. There are too much / too many cars in the centre.

3. I’m too / too much busy to talk now.

4. She doesn’t drink enough water / water enough.

5. This coffee isn’t enough hot / hot enough.

6. He drives too / too much fast.

7. We don’t have enough chairs / chairs enough.

8. You worry too much / too many.

STAGE 8 · PRACTICE

Write one sentence

Use the word in brackets. Example: The music is very loud! (too) → The music is too loud.

1. I want the jacket (€300). I have €50. (enough)

2. There are 40 students and 25 books. (many)

3. He watches TV six hours a day. (much)

4. She’s 15. You must be 18 to drive. (too / old enough)

5. We have three eggs. The recipe needs six. (enough)

STAGE 9 · SPEAKING

Dear Auntie… you!

STEPS 1–2

Alone, write a short letter (4–6 sentences) with a funny “balance” problem — use at least three of: too, too much, too many, (not) enough. Sign with a nickname. The teacher redistributes the letters; you and a partner become Auntie Edna and reply with three pieces of advice (and three quantifiers).

STEPS 3–4 — THE RADIO SHOW

Read “your” letter and answer aloud, talk-show style. The class votes: funniest problem · wisest advice · most honest Edna moment.

Find your own letter’s answer. Will you follow the advice? Tell the class in one sentence.

TEACHER'S REFERENCE

Answer key

4 1 T · 2 F (six in total) · 3 F (she says he needs a mirror) · 4 T · 5 F (he never wears half) · 6 T · 7 F (she says it’s big enough) · 8 F (it makes money — selling books!)

6a too + adj/adv: too tired, too quickly · too much + uncount: too much coffee · too many + count: too many clothes · (not) enough + noun: not enough space · adj + enough: isn’t big enough · verb + enough: don’t sleep enough

6b/6c before a noun / after an adj or adverb. “I’m too tired” — too goes directly with the adjective.

8a 1 too much 2 too many 3 too 4 enough water 5 hot enough 6 too 7 enough chairs 8 too much

8b (sample) 1 I don’t have enough money. 2 There aren’t enough books. / too many students. 3 He watches too much TV. 4 She’s too young to drive. / She isn’t old enough to drive. 5 We don’t have enough eggs.