When much is used. The words many, much, a lot of and their usage

1.79
1. Much used with uncountable nouns (in the singular), and many- countable in the plural:

I haven't got much time.
I don't know many of your friends.

□ Sometimes much can be used before countable nouns in the singular:

There's not much point in going on.

□ Many can be used after other determiners (the, my, its, his, her, etc.):

Among the many unknowns after the earthquake is the extent of damage to the foundations of buildings.
The gallery is exhibiting some of his many famous paintings of ships.

2. Much and many can be used as pronouns (if the meaning is clear):

You haven't eaten much.
Did you find any mushrooms? - Not many.

As a rule, this sounds quite formal:

There is no guarantee of a full recovery. Much depends on how well she responds to treatment.
The government's policies have done much to reduce unemployment.
Many (= many people) have argued that she is the finest poet of our generation.
Not once did I see a tiger in the jungle, although I heard many.

Before other determiners (the, my, this, etc.) or pronouns, use much/many of:

You can't see much of a country in a week.
how much of the house do you want to paint this year?
I won "t pass the exam: I" ve missed too many of my lessons.
How many of you are there?

There "s not much meat left. (not ' There's not much of meat left’.)
Many shops open on Sunday mornings. (not ' many shops’)

Of after much/many usually not used if there is no other determiner (article or personal):

She didn't eat much breakfast. (not ' ... much of breakfast’.)
There aren "t many large glasses left. (not ' ...many of large glasses left’.)

But much of used before names and geographical names:

I "ve seen too much of Haward recently.
Not much of Denmark is hilly.

□ Sometimes this usage is possible:

He "s not much of a success / gentleman.

3. In colloquial speech much and many, as a rule, are used only in interrogative and negative sentences. In affirmative sentences, they sound very formal (especially much) and instead of them other, equivalent in meaning, words and phrases are used:

He's got lots of men friends, but he doesn't know many women. (More natural than ' He's got many men friends...’)
Did you buy any clothes? .- Yes, lots. (not ' yes, many’)
How much money have you got? - I "ve got plenty. (not ' I've got much’.)

a) a lot of and lots of

These expressions are used mainly in colloquial speech and can be used with uncountable nouns and plural countable nouns (the verb agrees in number with the noun, not with a lot of/lots of):

A lot of time is needed to learn a language.
Lots of patience is needed, too. (not ' Lots of patience are needed, too’.)
A lot of my friends want to emigrate. (not ' A lot of my friends wants...’)
Lots of us think it's time for an election.

There "s not a lot of meat left. (not ' There's not a lot of meat left’.)

b) plenty of means "enough" or "more than enough":

Don't rush. There's plenty of time.
Plenty of shops take checks.
There's no need to worry. We've got plenty of money.
Have some more coffee. - No, thank you. I "ve had plenty.

We took lots of food and drink on our walk through the hills/ ...plenty of...
Jim doesn "t look well. He" s lost a lot of weight (not " plenty of")
Plenty of shops open on Sunday mornings. (not ' Plenty shops’)

4. In a more formal style, they are used

a) much and many:

We have much (work) to do/many obstacles to overcome before we can claim that real progress has been achieved.
Much has been written about unemployment.
In the opinion of many economists, ...
Much debate has been heard about Thornton's new book.
There could be many explanations for this.
Much of her fiction describes women in unhappy marriages.

b) a great/good deal of, a large/considerable/substantial amount of and a large/considerable/great/substantial number of

These expressions sound somewhat more formal than a lot of and lots of:

A great/good deal of and a large amount of used with uncountable nouns:

Mr. Lucas has spent a great deal of time in the Far East.
A good deal of the exhibition was dedicated to her recent work.
I "ve thrown out a large amount of old clothing.
A large amount of the food was inedible/ Much of...

A large number of used with plural nouns:

A large number of problems still have to be solved. (more natural than
‘A large amount of problems ...’ / ‘A great deal of problems ...’)
The book contains a large number of pictures, many in colour/ ...many...

c) turnover many a with a singular noun:

The manager must have spent many a sleepless night worrying about his team selection.
Many a pupil at the school will be pleased that Latin is no longer compulsory.

d) turns a good/great many:

She has a good/great many friends in New Zealand.

e) turns far too many / far too much(meaning "too much")

Far too many students failed the end-of-year math exam.
Far too much time is wasted filling in forms.

□ Expressions with of usually not used before words like pounds, or miles:

It cost several pounds. (not ' It cost a lot of pounds’.)
They lived miles from the town. (not ' They lived plenty of miles from
the town’.)

□ Usually many(but not a lot of/lots) are used with words denoting time (days, minutes, months, weeks, years) and with numbers + of(for example: thousands of voters, millions of pounds):

We used to spend many hours driving to Melbourne and back.
He was the founder of a company now worth many millions of pounds.

□ Expressions with of can be used as pronouns if the meaning is clear:

How much did it cost? - A lot. (= A lot of money.)
We should be all right for cheese - I "ve bought plenty.
He does not often speak, but when he does he says a great deal.

□ A lot and a great deal can be used as adverbs:

On holiday we walk and swim a lot.
The government seems to change its mind a great deal.

□ Expressions so much/many, as much/many and too much/many sound quite natural in colloquial speech in affirmative sentences:

There was so much traffic that it took me an hour to get home.
I play as much tennis as I can.
You make too many mistakes.
She won't drink this coffee. There's too much sugar in it.
There was so much sugar in the coffee that she could "t drink it.

□ Much used as an adverb in questions and negative sentences:

Do you work much at weekends? I don't travel much these days.
She's much older than her brother.
I don't drive much faster than you.

□ Much in formal style can be used before some verbs (expressing satisfaction and preference) in affirmative sentences:

I appreciate your help.
We much prefer the country to the town.
I didn't much enjoy the concert.

very much used as an adverb (usually not placed before a noun):

I very much like your new hairstyle.
Thank you very much.
There's a whole lot of water coming under the door. (before noun) (not ‘ There's very much water coming...’)

Much and many have degrees of comparison (and the same):

George did more work/exercise than anyone else.
So he did the most work/exercises

1.80
MORE

1. More used as a comparative degree much and many:

We need more time (not ‘ ...more of time’.)
More university students are having to borrow money these days.

2. If the meaning is clear, more

I "d like some more, please.

more of:

Three more of the missing climbers have been found.
Could I have some more of that smoked fish?
I don't think any more of them want to come.

And more of

It would be nice to see more of Ray and Barbara.
Five hundred years ago, much more of Britain was covered with trees.

3. Turnovers are used one more/two more... etc..

There's just one more river to cross.

4. More is used (according to the relevant rules) to form the comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs):

As you get older you get more tolerant.
Please drive more slowly.

5. More can be used as an adverb:

I couldn't agree more.
I hate this job more and more as the years go by.

1.81
MOST

1. The most used as a superlative much and many:

Susan found the most blackberries (more than others).
The most work is often done by the quietest worker.

In colloquial speech the sometimes omitted:

Who earns (the) most money in your family?

2. Most(in this meaning without the article) means "the majority":

Most children like ice cream. (not ' The most children...’)
Most cheese is made from cow's milk.
Most Swiss people understand French. (not ' Most of Swiss people...’)
Most people want a peaceful life.

Most of used before names and geographical names:

In this meaning most no longer a superlative much/many, but actually an independent determinant.

□ The majority of(=most / most of) is usually used with the plural:

The majority of criminals are non-violent.

3. If the meaning is clear, most can be used as a pronoun:

Some people had difficulty with the lecture, but most understood.

Before other determiners (a, the, my, this, etc.) and pronouns, we use most of:

Most of the people here know each other.
Most of my friends live abroad. (not ' most my friends...’)
Most of us thought he was wrong.
He's eaten two pizzas and most of a cold chicken.

4. (The) most used (according to the relevant rules) to form the superlative degree of adjectives and adverbs:

I wasn't as clever as the others, but I was the most beautiful.
I work most efficiently in the early morning.

5. (The) most can be used as an adverb (the article is often omitted in colloquial speech):

They all talk a lot, but your little girl talks (the) most.
The truth hurts most.

Like an adverb most can mean "very" in formal style:

That is the most kind of you.
Thanks you for a most interesting afternoon.
The experience was most distressing.

□ Mostly means "in most but not all cases"

Your little girl talks the most. (not ' ...talks mostly’.)
She mostly talks about her friends.

How not to get confused using much and many? Just pay attention to the rules of use, because it is no coincidence that the British came up with two words with the same meaning. They are not interchangeable: in some cases you will only need much, and in others only many. It all depends on the word itself, to which it will refer. much or many. Let's figure out what's what!

Much and many. Rules of use

As you know, nouns are divided into countable (can be counted) and uncountable (cannot be counted), and it is on this that they depend rules for using much and many. It must be remembered once and for all that many"friends" only with countable nouns, and much- with uncountable.

Examples:

many children - many children

much water - a lot of water

But that's not all about much and many. The rules for using these words say that they are best avoided in positive sentences. I.e much and many in English language should be used in negatives and questions. There are exceptions when these words are part of the subject.

Examples:

Do you have many friends here? – Do you have many friends here? ( many + count noun).

I don't like much sugar in my tea. – I don’t like a lot of sugar in tea ( much + uncountable noun).

Many people speak English. – A lot of people speak English ( many is part of the subject– many people).

Rules for using many much a lot of

If you can’t do without “a lot” in your positive sentence, then pay attention to rules for using many\much\a lot of. It is believed that it is well suited for assertion a lot of. By the way, you can use it in absolutely any context. Even if you suddenly doubt what is suitable for this offer, a lot of will always help out, as it can be used for both countable nouns and uncountable ones.

Examples:

There are a lot of people in this room. - There are a lot of people in this room ( a lot of + countable noun).

I have a lot of work today. - I have a lot of work today ( a lot of + uncountable noun).

Do I have a lot of mistakes in the test? - Do I have a lot of errors in the test? ( interrogative sentence).

They don't have a lot of information. – They don’t have much information ( negative sentence).

Rules for using many\much\a lot of relate specifically to nouns, you cannot use these words with verbs. But what to do when it is important to "strengthen" the meaning of the action? Suitable here a lot(no preposition of).

Examples:

We see our parents a lot. – We see our parents a lot (meaning “we see each other often”)

Do you practice this language a lot? – Do you practice this language a lot?

How much how many

Concerning use how much how many, then here, too, everything depends on the noun that will follow this or that interrogative phrase. how much must be combined with uncountable nouns, and how many- with countable.

The use of few, little, much, many, a lot of largely depends on the type of sentence and on the noun standing next to it. Correct use these pronouns defines meaning phrases. How to understand in which cases you can say "a lot" or "a little", "little" or "too much"? All questions about similarities and differences will be considered in more detail in the article. .

Semantic and grammatical features uses few, little, much, many, a lot of.

In our speech, we often use words such as “little” or “little”, “a few” or “many”. Thus, we are trying to point to a not quite specific amount of something. Usage in English much, many, a lot of, few, little sometimes causes difficulty. However, these pronouns are very common in speech and the meaning of the phrase depends on their correct use.

Understanding and using them correctly in speech is quite easy if you follow the following rules of English grammar and follow the steps below.

Step 1. Determine the meaning of the pronoun (word translation)

Much
Many
A lot of

Few
Little

Step 2. Determine the group of the noun to which it refers

All nouns can be divided into countable(those that can be counted: pen - 2 pens, pen - 2 pens) and uncountable(sugar, water; sugar, water)

Step 3. Choose the right pronoun

Difference between few, little, much, many, despite the identical translation of these language pairs, lies precisely in the use of the subsequent noun.
So, much and little are used with uncountables:

much work - a lot of work; much salt - a lot of salt;
little money - little money; little sugar - little sugar;

I haven't much work today. I don't have much work today.
My mother gave me little money, I can't buy it. - My mother gave me little money, I can’t buy it (little, not enough).

Many and few are placed before countables:

many pencils - a lot of pencils; many books - many books;
few friends - few friends; few cars - few cars;
Have you got many books about animals? Do you have many books about animals?
Unfortunately, he has few friends. Unfortunately, he has few friends (few, not enough)

Thus, having determined the group of the noun (countable or uncountable), you can easily select the desired pronoun.

note that a lot of (lots of, plenty of colloquial forms) It is used before both countable and uncountable nouns. This "magic wand" will always help convey the meaning of "a lot" if you find it difficult to determine which group the word belongs to.

He spent a lot of money.He spent a lot of money.
He has got a lot of financial problems.He has many financial problems.

Note:Plenty of passes a value greater than necessary; too much.

Have some more to eat. No, thank you. I've had plenty of.
Eat some more. No thanks. I've already eaten enough.

Step 4. Determine the type of sentence (affirmative, interrogative, negative)

Much, many - it is better to use in negative or interrogative sentences. A lot of - also conveying the meaning of "a lot" - it is advisable to use in affirmative. However, you should be careful, such phrases as too much, as much, so much, very much, or how much are also used in affirmative phrases. It is important to note that English grammar says that the pronoun much can convey the meaning of very, much, much, or much.

He didn't put much sugar into the tea. (negative) He didn't add much sugar to the tea.
Have you got many books? (interrogative) Do you have many books?

I can't eat this soup. There's too much salt. I can't eat this soup. It has too much salt.

He did it much sooner. He did it much faster.

As, little, few have a little negative value(little, not enough, I would like more), then their use sounds better in negative sentences. If you want to pass a value small, but enough, just a little, just a little, then put indefinite article"a" in front of them- a few, a little. It is more expedient to use such a combination in affirmative expressions, since it carries a positive connotation. Note the use of the phrase only a little or only a few reflects slight dissatisfaction (a little, I want more).

We've got little time. - We have little time.
Tom is not friendly. He has got few friends. Tom is not friendly. He has few friends.
Have you got any time to talk? Yes, a little.- Do you have time to talk? Yes a little.
When did you visit granny? A few days ago. - When did you visit your grandmother? A few days ago (not so long ago).
The house was very small. There were only a few rooms. — It was a small house. It has only a few rooms.

As you can see, there is nothing complicated in using the pronouns much, many, few, little. The main thing is to carefully look at the noun standing next to it and the type of sentence, and your speech will be competent and understandable.

English learners often have difficulty using many/much/more/alotof. The rule nevertheless clearly separates these expressions. Remember a few key points - and you will never get confused.

depending on the noun

All three expressions can be translated as "a lot, a large number." The difference lies in grammatical meaning. Consider when to bet much/many/a lot of. The rule (table below) is:

Many is used before countable nouns (things can be counted).

A large number of pens -manypens, a large number of plates -manyplates, many apples -manyapples.

Much is used before uncountable nouns (anything that cannot be counted - liquids, gases, materials, abstract concepts, etc.)

Plenty of breadmuchbread, many tips -muchadvice, a lot of time -muchtime.

Do not confuse: manycupsofcoffee-muchcoffee (many cups of coffee - a lot of coffee),manyloavesofbread-muchbread (many loaves of bread - lots of bread). Here many refers to the portion, not the substance.

A lot of is used before countable and uncountable nouns.

Lotsalt- a lot of saltpencils- a lot of pencils.

You can often hear the expression lots of. It is equivalent to a lot of but is used colloquially.

She has got a lot of books/She has got lots of books. - Uherthere islot(lots, weight) books.

The rules for using much/many/a lot of don't end there. Important role also plays the type of sentence in which these words are used.

Depending on the type of offer

put in affirmative sentences;

There are a lot of oranges on the table. - On thetablelieslotoranges.

I have got a lot of relatives. - Umethere islotrelatives.

the construction is not typical for interrogative and negative sentences;

How many pens has she bought today? - How muchpensshe istodaybought?

Thereisn'ttmuchmilkintherefrigerator. - There isn't much milk in the fridge.

used in all types of offers;

There are many trees in the garden. - ATgardengrowinglottrees.

Are there many trees in the garden? - Lotwhetheringardentrees?

There aren't many trees in the garden. - ATgardennotSoalreadyandlots of trees.

the only acceptable option for formal style; in this case a lot of is not used, for uncountable nouns it is also desirable to find synonymous constructions (for example, alargeamountof).

used in interrogative and negative sentences;

Do you gain much knowledge at school? - Do you acquire a lot of knowledge at school?

not typical for affirmative proposals- constructions are an exception toomuch,somuch(too much);

I usually drink a lot of lemonade. - UsuallyIdrinklotlemonade.

Yesterday I drank too much lemonade. - I drank too much lemonade yesterday.

The question “How much…?” translates to "How much does it cost ...?" This is a stable expression, and after it feel free to use countable and uncountable nouns.

How much are these gloves?- How much are these gloves?

Exercises

We've covered the main use cases for much/many/a lot of. The rule, the exercises for which you will now perform, is quite simple. It's time to consolidate the material covered. Insert the appropriate word in the sentence (options are possible).

Anna has got _ dresses. - Anna has many dresses.
It takes too -_ time. - It will take too long.
There is -_ apple juice in the fridge. You don't need to go to the supermarket. - There is a lot of apple juice in the fridge. You don't have to go to the store.
There isn't _ time left. - There is not much time left.
I have heard _ good news today. - I heard a lot of good news today.
I can't eat this dessert! You have put too _ sugar in it. - I can't eat this dessert! You put too much sugar in it.
There are too _ people here. Let's go to the garden! - There are too many people here. Let's go to the garden!
How _ are these scissors? - How much are these scissors?

many/a lot of;
much;
a lot of;
much;
a lot of;
much;
many;
much.

If you make a mistake, repeat the rule again. Now let's look at the usage of the word more.

Comparative degree of adverbs many/much conveyed by word more. It is used before countable and uncountable nouns.

There is much water in the saucepan. Youdon'tneedtoaddmorewater. - There is already a lot of water in the pan. You don't need to add water.

There aren't many pears on the table. You should have bought more pears. - On thetableLittlepears. You should have bought more pears.

To emphasize the degree of comparison, pronouns many / much are added to more (for countable and uncountable nouns, respectively). This is no longer an adverb, but a pronoun! Is there a difference between many more/much more - a lot of expressions? The rule does not strictly separate them - from a grammatical point of view, they are interchangeable. But there is a slight shade in the lexical meaning. A lot of means "large quantity". Many more / much more translate as "much more", "much more".

Compare:

He managed to earn a lot of money. - He managed to earn a lot of money.

He earned much more money than he had planned. He made more money than he planned.

She waited many days for her letter to be delivered. She waited many days for her letter to be delivered.

They promised to deliver the letter in a week, but in fact she had to wait many more days. They promised to deliver the letter in a week, but in fact she had to wait much longer.

Substitute many more/much more/a lot of in the following sentences. The rule is simple - focus on countable and uncountable items. Context will help you choose the right shade of meaning.

There are _ CDs on the shelf. - There are a lot of CDs on the shelf.
She has got _ rings than her friend has. - She has a lot more rings than her friend.
He has bought _ milk than it was needed. He bought much more milk than required.
She had _ knowledge than we expected. Her knowledge far exceeded our expectations.

Now you know when to use many/much/more/a lot of. The rule can be reduced to two key points: consider the features of the noun and the type of sentence.