Enough

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

  1. The radio’s small enough to put it in your pocket.
    2. The radio’s small enough for me to put it in my pocket.
    3. Those tomatoes aren’t ripe enough to eat them.
    4. Those tomatoes aren’t ripe enough for the children to eat them.

    Which one of these sentence(s) is/are acceptable?

    Thanks.

2

  1. The radio’s small enough to put it in your pocket. - the original is grammatically correct, but this would be usual.

  2. The radio’s small enough for me to put it in my pocket. - here the usual form would be to include the ‘it’ (though you could still omit it). English is so odd sometimes. Often these small nuances of context cannot just be picked up from a textbook, and there is no easy method of knowing them short of living within a native English speaking culture.

  3. Those tomatoes aren’t ripe enough to eat them.

  4. Those tomatoes aren’t ripe enough for the children to eat them.

  • Comments for 3 and 4 exactly the same as for 1 and 2 respectively.
3

What could be the difference (except the voice) in each pair?

1a. The radio is small enough to put in a pocket.
1b. The radio is small enough to be put in a pocket.

2a. Those tomatoes aren’t ripe enough to eat.
2b. Those tomatoes aren’t ripe enough to be eaten.

4

No significant difference. You could use them interchangeably.
The only thing that changes is the slight emphasis on the action.

‘Could be’ is not the best verb for your question.
What could be the difference…
is usually used in hypothetical questions.

‘What is the difference…’
or
‘Is there a difference…’
works far better here.

… not that you’ll believe me about that, I suppose.

5

Back to the sentences offered by Foreigner - the use of the pronoun ‘it’ and ‘them’ is wrong because the pronouns can’t be both subject and object in the same sentence. I wouldn’t really call that ‘odd’ but plain incorrect.

6

OK - thanks, light dawns.
Knew there was something off with the version I wouldn’t use.

7

(You have edited your response since I saw it. I do it, too.)

Well, don’t suppose. Why have a preconceived notion? That is the problem.

Anyhow, I used ‘could’ just because I also thought that there could not be any difference except that one was in the active voice and the other in the passive. Even ‘Is there any difference?’ could also have been my question.

And in my opinion, the situation need not be hypothetical to ask such a question. Hypothetical situations should be factual and credible, though not particular.

… not that you’ll agree on that, I suppose.

8

Thanks, Alan. This is really enlightening. I used to explain it in a different way, i.e. ‘it is incorrect to repeat the subject in the same clause/sentence’.

9

Exactly. You formed it some time ago and haven’t changed your mind since.

When I spoke about the hypothetical situation, I meant one which required conjecture. There is no element of conjecture in your question.

Those learners who wish to speak standard English in a way which will not have people raising an eyebrow about the phrasing of the question, will use the simple present tense.

You can do what you like.
I tried …

10

I’m a little confused: are all of the sentences incorrect ? Or are (1) and (3) incorrect?

Thanks.

11

2 and 4 are correct.

12

Thank you very much, Beeesneees!.. :slight_smile: