33.4 The Adverb 夠 gau3 (‘enough’)

In Grammar and Vocabulary 27.9, we learned that the adjective 夠 gau3 means ‘enough’.

We can also use the word 夠 gau3 as an adverb. 夠 gau3 also means ‘enough’ as an adverb. We use it to indicate the degree of an adjective is enough (as in soft enough). We put 夠 gau3 before the adjective, like other degree words. In this lesson, we will use 夠 gau3 with a predicative adjective.

We add the adverb 唔 m4 (‘not’) before 夠 gau3 to mean ‘not … enough’.

We add the adverb 未 mei6 (‘not yet’) before 夠 gau3 to mean ‘not … enough yet’.

We use the X-not-X construction to form yes-no questions with 夠 gau3. Notice X will be 夠 gau3 instead of the adjective behind it.

To answer the question, we can give a long answer or a short answer. We give a short answer more often. We form a short answer by omitting the subject and the adjective after 夠 gau3 in the long answer.