Is “too few” equivalent to “not enough”?

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Kindly, consider the image below:



enter image description here



Can I say for the glass in the middle: "too few water" instead of "not enough water"? Are they equivalent in meaning?
Thanks in advance.






grammar meaning







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  • You seem to be looking at language from a math perspective. It's all depends on what you want to convey… not the outcome. If you want to say "there's too little water" in your native language, say "too little." If you want to say "there's inadequate water," say "not enough." :/
    – XPMai
    7 mins ago

















up vote
2
down vote

favorite












Kindly, consider the image below:



enter image description here



Can I say for the glass in the middle: "too few water" instead of "not enough water"? Are they equivalent in meaning?
Thanks in advance.






grammar meaning







share|improve this question





















  • You seem to be looking at language from a math perspective. It's all depends on what you want to convey… not the outcome. If you want to say "there's too little water" in your native language, say "too little." If you want to say "there's inadequate water," say "not enough." :/
    – XPMai
    7 mins ago













up vote
2
down vote

favorite









up vote
2
down vote

favorite











Kindly, consider the image below:



enter image description here



Can I say for the glass in the middle: "too few water" instead of "not enough water"? Are they equivalent in meaning?
Thanks in advance.






grammar meaning







share|improve this question













Kindly, consider the image below:



enter image description here



Can I say for the glass in the middle: "too few water" instead of "not enough water"? Are they equivalent in meaning?
Thanks in advance.






grammar meaning




grammar meaning






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 3 hours ago









Laith Leo

211




211











  • You seem to be looking at language from a math perspective. It's all depends on what you want to convey… not the outcome. If you want to say "there's too little water" in your native language, say "too little." If you want to say "there's inadequate water," say "not enough." :/
    – XPMai
    7 mins ago

















  • You seem to be looking at language from a math perspective. It's all depends on what you want to convey… not the outcome. If you want to say "there's too little water" in your native language, say "too little." If you want to say "there's inadequate water," say "not enough." :/
    – XPMai
    7 mins ago
















You seem to be looking at language from a math perspective. It's all depends on what you want to convey… not the outcome. If you want to say "there's too little water" in your native language, say "too little." If you want to say "there's inadequate water," say "not enough." :/
– XPMai
7 mins ago





You seem to be looking at language from a math perspective. It's all depends on what you want to convey… not the outcome. If you want to say "there's too little water" in your native language, say "too little." If you want to say "there's inadequate water," say "not enough." :/
– XPMai
7 mins ago











3 Answers
3






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up vote
3
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"few" is used with a countable noun: "There are too few apples in the box".



You could use "little": There is too little water in the glass". This is equivalent to "not enough"






share|improve this answer






















  • Thank you. What I understand from your answer is that "too little water" is equivalent in meaning to "not enough water" as in the image, am I right?
    – Laith Leo
    3 hours ago

















up vote
2
down vote













Few is used with countable nouns. Since water cannot be counted in itself, "too few water" is wrong.



However, "too few glasses of water" is alright since the number of classes can be counted. Needless to say, the meaning changes from the original intention.






share|improve this answer
















  • 1




    First, thank you for your answer. I already know that "few" is used for countable nouns; my question is: are they equivalent in meaning not in use?
    – Laith Leo
    3 hours ago










  • "Too few water" is plain wrong. There is no meaning to it. So technically, it can never be equivalent to "not enough water". Can't compare wrong with right now, can we?
    – CinCout
    3 hours ago











  • Thank you. I got it.
    – Laith Leo
    3 hours ago

















up vote
1
down vote













Many native speakers use enough for both countable and uncountable nouns.




... not enough water.



... not enough volunteers.




But too few is used only with countable nouns.




... too few volunteers.







share|improve this answer




















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    3 Answers
    3






    active

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    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

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    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

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    up vote
    3
    down vote













    "few" is used with a countable noun: "There are too few apples in the box".



    You could use "little": There is too little water in the glass". This is equivalent to "not enough"






    share|improve this answer






















    • Thank you. What I understand from your answer is that "too little water" is equivalent in meaning to "not enough water" as in the image, am I right?
      – Laith Leo
      3 hours ago














    up vote
    3
    down vote













    "few" is used with a countable noun: "There are too few apples in the box".



    You could use "little": There is too little water in the glass". This is equivalent to "not enough"






    share|improve this answer






















    • Thank you. What I understand from your answer is that "too little water" is equivalent in meaning to "not enough water" as in the image, am I right?
      – Laith Leo
      3 hours ago












    up vote
    3
    down vote










    up vote
    3
    down vote









    "few" is used with a countable noun: "There are too few apples in the box".



    You could use "little": There is too little water in the glass". This is equivalent to "not enough"






    share|improve this answer














    "few" is used with a countable noun: "There are too few apples in the box".



    You could use "little": There is too little water in the glass". This is equivalent to "not enough"







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited 3 hours ago

























    answered 3 hours ago









    James K

    30k13681




    30k13681











    • Thank you. What I understand from your answer is that "too little water" is equivalent in meaning to "not enough water" as in the image, am I right?
      – Laith Leo
      3 hours ago
















    • Thank you. What I understand from your answer is that "too little water" is equivalent in meaning to "not enough water" as in the image, am I right?
      – Laith Leo
      3 hours ago















    Thank you. What I understand from your answer is that "too little water" is equivalent in meaning to "not enough water" as in the image, am I right?
    – Laith Leo
    3 hours ago




    Thank you. What I understand from your answer is that "too little water" is equivalent in meaning to "not enough water" as in the image, am I right?
    – Laith Leo
    3 hours ago












    up vote
    2
    down vote













    Few is used with countable nouns. Since water cannot be counted in itself, "too few water" is wrong.



    However, "too few glasses of water" is alright since the number of classes can be counted. Needless to say, the meaning changes from the original intention.






    share|improve this answer
















    • 1




      First, thank you for your answer. I already know that "few" is used for countable nouns; my question is: are they equivalent in meaning not in use?
      – Laith Leo
      3 hours ago










    • "Too few water" is plain wrong. There is no meaning to it. So technically, it can never be equivalent to "not enough water". Can't compare wrong with right now, can we?
      – CinCout
      3 hours ago











    • Thank you. I got it.
      – Laith Leo
      3 hours ago














    up vote
    2
    down vote













    Few is used with countable nouns. Since water cannot be counted in itself, "too few water" is wrong.



    However, "too few glasses of water" is alright since the number of classes can be counted. Needless to say, the meaning changes from the original intention.






    share|improve this answer
















    • 1




      First, thank you for your answer. I already know that "few" is used for countable nouns; my question is: are they equivalent in meaning not in use?
      – Laith Leo
      3 hours ago










    • "Too few water" is plain wrong. There is no meaning to it. So technically, it can never be equivalent to "not enough water". Can't compare wrong with right now, can we?
      – CinCout
      3 hours ago











    • Thank you. I got it.
      – Laith Leo
      3 hours ago












    up vote
    2
    down vote










    up vote
    2
    down vote









    Few is used with countable nouns. Since water cannot be counted in itself, "too few water" is wrong.



    However, "too few glasses of water" is alright since the number of classes can be counted. Needless to say, the meaning changes from the original intention.






    share|improve this answer












    Few is used with countable nouns. Since water cannot be counted in itself, "too few water" is wrong.



    However, "too few glasses of water" is alright since the number of classes can be counted. Needless to say, the meaning changes from the original intention.







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered 3 hours ago









    CinCout

    877414




    877414







    • 1




      First, thank you for your answer. I already know that "few" is used for countable nouns; my question is: are they equivalent in meaning not in use?
      – Laith Leo
      3 hours ago










    • "Too few water" is plain wrong. There is no meaning to it. So technically, it can never be equivalent to "not enough water". Can't compare wrong with right now, can we?
      – CinCout
      3 hours ago











    • Thank you. I got it.
      – Laith Leo
      3 hours ago












    • 1




      First, thank you for your answer. I already know that "few" is used for countable nouns; my question is: are they equivalent in meaning not in use?
      – Laith Leo
      3 hours ago










    • "Too few water" is plain wrong. There is no meaning to it. So technically, it can never be equivalent to "not enough water". Can't compare wrong with right now, can we?
      – CinCout
      3 hours ago











    • Thank you. I got it.
      – Laith Leo
      3 hours ago







    1




    1




    First, thank you for your answer. I already know that "few" is used for countable nouns; my question is: are they equivalent in meaning not in use?
    – Laith Leo
    3 hours ago




    First, thank you for your answer. I already know that "few" is used for countable nouns; my question is: are they equivalent in meaning not in use?
    – Laith Leo
    3 hours ago












    "Too few water" is plain wrong. There is no meaning to it. So technically, it can never be equivalent to "not enough water". Can't compare wrong with right now, can we?
    – CinCout
    3 hours ago





    "Too few water" is plain wrong. There is no meaning to it. So technically, it can never be equivalent to "not enough water". Can't compare wrong with right now, can we?
    – CinCout
    3 hours ago













    Thank you. I got it.
    – Laith Leo
    3 hours ago




    Thank you. I got it.
    – Laith Leo
    3 hours ago










    up vote
    1
    down vote













    Many native speakers use enough for both countable and uncountable nouns.




    ... not enough water.



    ... not enough volunteers.




    But too few is used only with countable nouns.




    ... too few volunteers.







    share|improve this answer
























      up vote
      1
      down vote













      Many native speakers use enough for both countable and uncountable nouns.




      ... not enough water.



      ... not enough volunteers.




      But too few is used only with countable nouns.




      ... too few volunteers.







      share|improve this answer






















        up vote
        1
        down vote










        up vote
        1
        down vote









        Many native speakers use enough for both countable and uncountable nouns.




        ... not enough water.



        ... not enough volunteers.




        But too few is used only with countable nouns.




        ... too few volunteers.







        share|improve this answer












        Many native speakers use enough for both countable and uncountable nouns.




        ... not enough water.



        ... not enough volunteers.




        But too few is used only with countable nouns.




        ... too few volunteers.








        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 20 mins ago









        Tᴚoɯɐuo

        97.6k671161




        97.6k671161



























             

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