much
many
lots of / lots of
plenty of
numerous
a large number of
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MUCH AND MANY
Much is used with non-countable
nouns (always in the singular) and many is used with countable nouns in the
plural.
a: Much
and many in affirmative statements:
In modern spoken English, Much,
and to a lesser extent many are not often used as quantifiers in affirmative
statements.
For examples:
I have many reasons for thinking that this man is innocent
This is acceptable, but rather formal; most English speakers would more naturally say:
I have plenty of / a lot of / ample (enough) reasons for thinking about you.
Much whisky is of very good quality.
This sentence is technically acceptable, but not probable in modern spoken English. Most people would say (and write):
A lot of whisky
I have many reasons for thinking that this man is innocent
This is acceptable, but rather formal; most English speakers would more naturally say:
I have plenty of / a lot of / ample (enough) reasons for thinking about you.
Much whisky is of very good quality.
This sentence is technically acceptable, but not probable in modern spoken English. Most people would say (and write):
A lot of whisky
A
good proportion of whisky /
Plenty
of whisky
He has much money.
This is not normal English. Speakers would more naturally say:
He has a lot of money.
He has much money.
This is not normal English. Speakers would more naturally say:
He has a lot of money.
He has loads of money.
Much of what you have written is very good.
This is quite acceptable in a formal context, but in spoken and less formal written style, most English-speakers would say (and write) something like:
Much of what you have written is very good.
This is quite acceptable in a formal context, but in spoken and less formal written style, most English-speakers would say (and write) something like:
For example:
A lot of what you have written.
A lot of what you have written.
Or: A good deal of what you
have written.
There is so much poverty in
the world.
Or: There are too many
people in here.
These examples, with so and too, are perfectly normal English
These examples, with so and too, are perfectly normal English
Remember: Don't use much or many in affirmative
statements, if you can avoid it. Though their use may be possible, it often
sounds very formal, old-fashioned or strange in modern English.
b: Much
and many in negative statements and questions:
Much
and many are more commonly used in interrogative and negative contexts, and most
particularly in the interrogative expressions “How much and How many.”
For
example:
We don't have much time to finish this.
There are not many people who know the answer to this.
Did you have much luck ?
How much does this tee-shirt (T-shirt) cost?
How many times do I have to tell you not to do that ?
We don't have much time to finish this.
There are not many people who know the answer to this.
Did you have much luck ?
How much does this tee-shirt (T-shirt) cost?
How many times do I have to tell you not to do that ?
c: Lots
of, a lot of, plenty of, a large number of, numerous:
These expressions are
all more or less synonyms. In the list above, they are arranged in order
of formality, going from the most informal (lots of) to the most formal (numerous).
Informal language is more appropriate in dialogue, formal language in written
documents.
d: Much
/ many or Much of / many of?
As quantifiers, much and many
are not followed by of when they quantify a noun directly. However, they must
be followed by of if they come before a determiner such as an article, a possessive
or a demonstrative.
For examples:
I can't see many people.
I can't see many people.
But I can't see many of my
friends.
Many houses were destroyed in the war.
But Many of the houses were destroyed in the war.
They didn't drink much beer.
But They didn't drink much of that beer we gave them.
Many houses were destroyed in the war.
But Many of the houses were destroyed in the war.
They didn't drink much beer.
But They didn't drink much of that beer we gave them.
e: Several and a number of:
These imply "more than
one, but less than a lot". They are not usually used in negative or
interrogative structures, only in affirmative statements.
For
example:
There are several books / a
number of books by Patricia Corner in
our library.
Several people / A number of people said that they’d seen the missing child.
Several people / A number of people said that they’d seen the missing child.
Related information about quantifiers:
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