In English, there are several ways to say that something is a lot. The Russian word "many" can be translated as plenty, much or many. There are also options a lot of and lots of. Let's see what is the difference between these words and learn how to use them correctly.
Much and many
The key difference is that much is used with uncountable nouns (sugar, tea, water, wood)
There's not much sugar in the sugar bowl. Don't forget to buy it.
There is not much sugar in the sugar bowl. Don't forget to buy it.
And many - with countable ones (people, cups, children, trees).
here were many children at Disneyland.
There were a lot of kids at Disneyland.
Be careful. In English, there are uncountable nouns that are easily confused with countable ones. If you are not sure about the “countability” of a word, do not be too lazy to look into the dictionary.
It is very useful, when studying a new word, to look not only at its translation, but also for additional information: word forms, whether it is countable, examples of use
There are also exception words that are uncountable. I call them decoys because they are easily confused with countables.
This includes:
advice (advice), money (money), news (news), travel (travel), furniture (furniture)
Lots of and A lot of
The use of these words does not depend on whether the noun is countable or not.
Lots of water/a lot of water, lots of paper work/a lot of paper work, lots of pens/ a lot of pens
Note that lots of is only used in informal English. Also, let's look at the difference in using these expressions in a sentence:
A lot of students visit their parents on Christmas holidays.
Many students visit their parents during the Christmas holidays.Lots of snow falls during a storm.
A lot of snow falls during a storm.
In the first case, the verb refers directly to the noun, so it is put in the plural form. Please note that there is no ending - s in the example.
If an uncountable noun is used with the phrase Lots of, then we write the verb in the third person singular form.
Difference between much/many and lots of/a lot of
The main difference in usage is that we say much and many when we ask about the amount of something:
How many people were in the meeting? How many people were at the meeting?
How many people were in the meeting?
Also, don't forget about set phrases:
- too many / too much - too much;
- as much as / as many as- as much as ...;
- so many / so much - so many.
Keep in mind that much and many sound formal. Lots of and a lot of are used informally. The fact that lots of is even more informal than a lot of we have already written above.
By the way, in informal English such expressions as “a lot more”, “a lot fewer”, and “a lot less” are acceptable.
When to say plenty of
Like the two previous phrases, plenty of is used with both countable and uncountable nouns. The only difference is that it means "a lot", a huge amount of something.
We have analyzed all the options: plenty, much or many. To remember, try to come up with phrases that will help you if you get confused somewhere. For example, my phrases are many people and much sugar. People are a countable noun, which means that many must also be used with other countable nouns. I argue the same about much sugar. The same association phrases can be thought up for each item above. It helps a lot in the beginning.
Hello people! In this article, we will analyze in detail the rules for using English language words "much", "many" and "a lot of", we will learn the differences between them, discuss the nuances of using them in speech, and also show examples for clarity.
Much
Translation and transcription: much - a lot, very, a lot, significantly, very much;
Use: is used in a sentence when we mean a large number of uncountable nouns, i.e. those that cannot be counted individually;
Example:
There is much black paint left in the garage.
Left in the garage lot black paint.
Also, it is usually used in negative (negative) or interrogative (interrogative) sentences:
Chris does not have much change. Only a few five dollar bills.
Chris doesn't have much money to change. Just a few five dollar bills.
In affirmative sentences, "much" is sometimes used when a more formal and formal style is meant.
For instance:
There is much concern about genetically modified food in the UK.
In Great Britain the question is acute regarding genetically modified foods.
Many
Transcription and translation: like "much", "many" ["menɪ] is translated as "many";
Use: used exclusively with plural countable nouns;
Example:
However, despite many many problems remain unsolved.
However, despite significant efforts, many problems remain unresolved.
V denials and issues with countable nouns "many" is also quite common:
how many quail eggs are in this salad?
how many quail eggs in this salad?
Anthony does not have many bottles of wine in his own private bar. At least that's what he's saying.
Anthony Little bottles wine in his own bar. At least he says so.
Can be used in affirmative suggestions when you need a shade formalities.
There were many scientific articles taken into account to make a decision.
It was taken into account many scientific articles to make a decision.
A lot of
Transcription and translation: in meaning “a lot of” [ə lɔt ɔf] is similar to “much” and “many” and implies the same translation - a lot;
Use: used both with countable nouns in the plural and with uncountable ones, mainly in colloquial and informal speech.
Example:
Jack had a lot of peanut butter left in the jar.
Jack has left lot peanut pasta in the bank.
The equivalent of "a lot of" is " lots of' (an even more informal form).
Lots of teenagers learn Korean because they are into k-pop.
Many teenagers are learning Korean because they are into the K-pop music genre.
|
WORD |
Use |
Meaning |
|
countable nouns (plural) / negation + question / affirmation = formal style |
||
|
uncountable nouns / negation + question / affirmation = formal style |
||
|
more / more |
||
|
The most |
uncountable + countable nouns / adjectives |
most / most |
|
A lot (of) |
uncountable + countable nouns / informal style |
|
|
lots (of) |
uncountable + countable nouns / highly informal style |
Very often, when talking about the quantity of something, we want to emphasize that there was a lot of it. In this case, it is necessary to use the words much, many or a lot of, with which confusion sometimes arises. Let's figure out how to use them correctly in speech.
Countable and uncountable nouns
In order to understand this topic, it is necessary to understand the difference between countable and uncountable nouns. In fact, everything is very simple: countable nouns are things that can be counted (respectively, they can be in the singular or in the plural), and uncountable nouns are things that can't be counted(respectively, they do not have a plural).
a lemon - two lemons (lemon - two lemons)
Lemon is a countable noun
bread - lots of bread (bread - a lot of bread)
Bread is an uncountable noun
Please note that some nouns can be used as both countable and uncountable, but then their meaning will be different:
We don't have time. (We have no time .)
Time is an uncountable noun
We were there five times last week. (We were there five times last week.)
Time is a countable noun
Use a lot of
In affirmative sentences it is recommended to use a lot of or its short form lots of to indicate a large amount of something:
I have a lot of books on my desk.
I have a lot of books on the table.
They drink lots of water.
They drink a lot of water.
Please note that for a lot of and lots of there is no difference with which nouns they are used: with countable or uncountable nouns. These expressions are suitable for any type.
In addition, a lot of and lots of can be used in other types of sentences (in negative and interrogative):
I don't have lots of time.
I do not have much time.
We don't bake a lot of bread.
We don't bake a lot of bread.
drinking quite a lot of
Literally quite a lot of means " enough", and is used to indicate the average amount of something:
She has quite a lot of clothes.
She has quite a few clothes.
Note that quite lots of is incorrect.
Using many and much
In negative and interrogative sentences it is recommended to use many or much:
I don't have much coffee.
I have some coffee.
Have you got many books?
Do you have many books?
Difference between many and much
The main difference between many and much is that many is used with countable nouns, while much is used with countable nouns. with uncountable:
We don't have many bananas.
We have some bananas.
Sarah doesn't drink much tea.
Sarah doesn't drink much tea.
how much / how many
To ask a question about the amount of something, you need to use how much or how many. The choice again depends on whether the noun in question is countable or uncountable (How many is used with countable nouns, and How much with uncountable ones):
How many burgers can you eat?
How many burgers can you eat?
How much bread do you eat?
How much bread do you eat?
Answers to the question with How many
When answering the question with how many, there are several options, depending on the value.
You can answer briefly:
How many books are there?
How many books are there?
Quite a bit of.
Not at all.
There are a lot of / lots of books.
There are many books there.
There are quite a lot of books.
There are quite a few books there.
There aren't many books.
There aren't many books.
There aren't any books.
There are no books there.
Answers to the question with How much
When answering a question with how mach, there are several options, depending on the value.
You can answer briefly:
How much milk do you drink?
How much milk do you drink?
Enough.
Not at all.
You can answer with a full sentence:
I drink a lot of / lots of milk.
I drink a lot of milk.
I drink quite a lot of milk.
I drink quite a lot of milk.
I don't drink much milk.
I don't drink a lot of milk.
I don't drink milk.
I don't drink milk.
Have you noticed how often we use the words “many”, “little”, “several” in speech and how we do not like to give exact numbers? Secretive by nature, the British also very often use these words in speech. When we say "a lot" in English, we use the words many, much, a lot of, plenty of and when we say "little" - few, a few, little, a little. These words are called determiners(defining words), they indicate an indefinite amount of something. From the article you will learn when and where to use much, many, few, little, a lot of, plenty of in English.
The noun plays a key role in the choice of the defining word. It is from what kind of noun is in front of us, countable ( countable noun) or uncountable ( uncountable noun), depends on what will be determiner. We recall once again that we can count countable nouns and they have a plural form ( a boy – boys). And uncountable nouns do not have a plural form ( water – some water) and we can't count them.
We have divided all words into three groups depending on the noun they are used with. We will consider each group separately.
| Much/Little (many/little) |
Many/Few (many/little) |
A lot of / Plenty of (lot) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncountable nouns | countable nouns | Countable and uncountable nouns |
| How much money have you got? – How much money do you have? There is little ink left in my pen. There is little ink left in my pen. |
I have many friends. - I have many friends. He has got few friends. - He has few friends. |
There is a lot of sugar there. - There's a lot of sugar. There are plenty of plants in the garden. - There are many plants in the garden. |
Many, few, a few with countable nouns
The words many(lot), few(few), a few(several) are used with countable nouns. Many means a large amount of something: many apples(many apples), many friends(many friends), many ideas(many ideas).
Opposite many- it few: few apples(few apples) few friends(few friends), few ideas(few ideas). At few often a negative meaning: there is very little of something, not enough, so little that there is practically none.
A few is intermediate between many and few, translated as "several": a few apples(several apples) a few friends(some friends), a few ideas(several ideas).
– Do you have many friends in this part of the city? - By you lot friends in this part of town?
- No, I don't. I have few friends in this part of the city. - I do not have few friends in this part of town. (that is, not enough, I would like more)
– I have a few friends in the city centre. - I have several friends in the city center.
Much, little, a little with uncountable nouns
The words much(lot), little(few), a little(a little) are used with uncountable nouns. Usually uncountable are liquids ( water- water, oil- oil), too small objects that cannot be counted ( sand- sand, flour- flour), or abstract concepts, since they cannot be seen or touched with hands ( knowledge- knowledge, work- Work).
Much denotes a large amount of something uncountable: much sugar(a lot of sugar), much milk(a lot of milk), much time(a lot of time).
Opposite much- it little: little sugar(little sugar) little milk(little milk) little time(little time). Little, like few, means that something is not enough, very little.
A little means a small amount of something that cannot be counted: little sugar(a little sugar), a little milk(some milk), a little time(a little time).
– Did she put much salt in the soup? - She lot did you put salt in the soup?
- No, she didn't. She put little salt in the soup. No, she put few salt in soup. (could have done more)
– I added a little salt in her soup. - I added Little salt in her soup.
A lot of, plenty of - universal words
The words a lot of(many) and plenty of(much) the most "convenient": we can use them with both countable and uncountable nouns.
A lot of (lots of) replaces much and many: a lot of people(many people), lots of tea(a lot of tea). Plenty of means that there is a lot of something, that is, enough or even more than you need: plenty of people(a lot of people), plenty of tea(a lot of tea).
We bought lots of souvenirs and plenty of tea when we were on vacation in Sri Lanka. - We bought lot souvenirs and lots of tea while on holiday in Sri Lanka.
Features and exclusions
- Much, many, few, little, a lot of with uncountable nouns
There are a number of nouns that appear to be countable but are actually not. Sometimes it can be difficult to determine the "countability" of a noun. If you are not sure which noun is in front of you, it is better to check it in . Note that in English, uncountables include advice(advice), news(news), work(Work), money(money), research(study), travel(journey), furniture(furniture).
They have much work to do. - They have lot work.
She told me a little fascinating news. - She told me several interesting news.
And now a little life hack. You can add to an uncountable noun that will help us count these same uncountable nouns.
She drank much water. - she drank plenty of water.
She drank many glasses of water. - she drank many glasses water.Can you buy canned food and bread? Can you buy canned food and bread?
Can you buy a can of corn and a loaf of bread? - You can buy bank canned corn and bun of bread? - Much, many, few, little, a lot of in different types of offers
In affirmative sentences, you will often hear a lot of, how much or many. In negative and interrogative sentences, it is preferable to use much or many, but a lot of also occurs.
– Did you take many photographs when you were in New York? - You did lot photos from when you were in New York?
– It was a business trip! I didn't take many photographs as I didn't have much time. - I was on a business trip! I have not done lot photos because I didn't have lot time.
– But I had a lot of meetings and Iate a lot of unhealthy foods. - But I had lot meetings and I ate lot junk food.However, if there are adverbs very(very), too(too much), so(so), then in affirmative sentences after them there can only be much and many.
I ate a lot of fish. - I ate lot fishes.
I ate too much fish. - I ate too much fishes.You ask me a lot of questions. - you ask me lot questions.
You ask me so many questions. - you ask me so much questions.At few and little also has one important feature. Very often in the flow of speech we can not distinguish, said the interlocutor few or a few, little or a little. To prevent this from happening, few and little word joins very, the meaning of the statement does not change.
He has very little experience in this field. He has a little experience in another one. - Him few experience in this area (almost no). He has Little experience in another area.
He knows very few people in the building. He knew a few people where he lived before. - He knows few people (almost no one) living with him in the same house. He knew several people where they used to live.
- Degrees of comparison much, many, few, little
We can not only name a quantity, but also compare it with another quantity. Comparative form for much and many – more(more).
She usually spends much money on clothes but that time she spent even more. She usually spends lot money for clothes, but that time she spent more more.
She usually buys many dresses and many bags but yesterday she bought more dresses than bags. – She usually buys lot dresses and lot bags, but yesterday she bought more dresses than bags.
Comparative degree for little- it less(less), for few – fewer(less).
I have known her for a long time and she used to have fewer cats. I have known her for a very long time, she used to have less cats.
I drink very little tea and I drink even less milk. - I drink a lot. few tea, but still milk less.
About other features much, many you can learn from the video from the teacher Ronnie.
You can download our plate and use it whenever you want. We also recommend that you practice using much, many, few, little, a lot of in our test.
(*.pdf, 181 Kb)
Test
Eating much, many, few, little, a lot of, plenty
Surely you still remember from the school curriculum that in English there are such questions as “how much” and “how many”, which are translated as “how much”. Do you remember the difference between "much" and "many"? In what cases should you use only "how much", and in which - "how many"? Or are they interchangeable questions?
Today, let's clarify and remember the difference between these questions once and for all!
So, in English, as in Russian, all common nouns are divided into two large groups:
countable nouns (i.e. those that can be counted by one, two, three, etc.) may have singular and plural forms*, a uncountable nouns can be used only in the singular or only in the plural.
It would seem that everything is very simple, however, there are some pitfalls here: a noun, which in Russian is countable, in English can be uncountable and vice versa. For example, the word "hours" in Russian has the plural form, and in English it has the singular form. "Council" - in Russian it is a countable noun (advice, councils), and in English it is an uncountable noun. Read more about this here.
In addition, some nouns in English, depending on the meaning, can be both countable and uncountable.
So, "how many" is used with countable nouns, and "how much" with uncountable ones.
Note that after "how many" the countable noun is plural.
And now, we suggest that you complete the task to consolidate the studied material.
"HOW MUCH" OR "HOW MANY"?
Fill in the blanks with "How much" or "How many" to complete the questions
Now check your answers against the key.