A great oak and a little reed, by a river. One is very proud.
Aesop’s Fables · Part 3 · Too, enough, so and such
The Oak and the Reed
Too weak to stand, strong enough to fight, so tall that…, such a storm that…: the grammar of degree and result, with a proud Oak and a flexible Reed.
🌾 Play the story too: in the gamebook, you are the Reed.Play the gamebook →
SOPHIA
PHILO
And one is very flexible. I think I know which one wins.
The fable
After Aesop
By a river stood an Oak, so tall that birds nested at the top. At his feet grew a little Reed, who bent in every breeze. “You’re too weak to stand up straight,” laughed the Oak. “I’m strong enough to fight any wind.”
One night came such a storm that even the hills shook. The Reed bent low, and the wind passed over her. The Oak stood straight and fought, but his roots weren’t deep enough, and there was too much wind and too much rain.
In the morning, the Reed stood up again, a little torn but alive. The great Oak lay broken in the river.
It is better to bend than to break.
Too and enough
DEMETRIA
Too weak to stand. Strong enough to fight. His roots weren’t deep enough.
SOPHIA
too + adjective (+ to + verb) = more than is good. adjective + enough (+ to + verb) = as much as needed. But enough + noun: enough room, enough water.
Too much, too many
PHILO
Too much rain. Too many leaves.
SOPHIA
too much + uncountable noun; too many + plural noun. And note: very is not negative, too is: It’s very hot (fine) vs It’s too hot (a problem).
So and such
MARCOS
So tall that birds nested in him. Such a storm that the hills shook.
SOPHIA
so + adjective / adverb; such + (a / an) + (adjective) + noun. Both can be followed by that + result. Plural or uncountable: such different trees, such bad weather (no a).
Sophia’s summary
| Form | Use | From the fable |
|---|---|---|
| too + adjective (+ to) | more than is good | too weak to stand |
| adjective + enough (+ to); enough + noun | as much as needed | strong enough; enough room |
| too much / too many | uncountable / plural | too much rain, too many leaves |
| so + adjective (+ that) | degree, result | so tall that birds nested there |
| such (a) + noun (+ that) | degree, result | such a storm that the hills shook |
Practice
Answer all the questions, then press “Check my answers”. You can try again as many times as you like.
A · Choose the best answer
Choose the right word.
1. The tea is ___ hot to drink.
2. He isn’t old ___ to drive.
3. It was ___ a beautiful day!
4. She was ___ tired that she fell asleep.
5. There are ___ people in this room.
6. We have ___ to buy a house.
B · Complete the sentence
Write the missing word or words.
7. It was a long journey that we slept in the car.
8. The box was heavy for me to lift.
9. Is the water warm for swimming?
10. There was much noise to sleep.
C · Right or wrong?
Is the sentence correct English?
11. “He is enough tall to reach the shelf.”
12. “It was such a good film!”
13. “They are so good friends.”
Now be the Reed yourself. Will you bend, or break?Play the gamebook →