GEP8 Quantifiers Mr.
Keyes
Much, many, a lot of, lots of: negative questions
When we use much and many in negative questions, we are usually expecting that a large quantity of something isn’t
there. When we use a lot of and lots of in negative questions, we are usually expecting a large quantity of something.
Compare
(No, they haven’t.)
Haven’t they sold many tickets?
The speaker expects that they have sold a small quantity of tickets.
(Yes, they have.)
Haven’t they sold a lot of tickets? (or lots of)
The speaker expects that they have sold a large quantity of tickets.
(No, there isn’t.)
Isn’t there much food left?
The speaker expects that there is a small quantity of food left.
(Yes, there is.)
Isn’t there a lot of food left? (or lots of)
The speaker expects that there is a large quantity of food left.
Much, many, a lot, lots: without a noun
We usually leave out the noun after much, many and a lot, lots when the noun is obvious:
A:
Would you like some cheese?
GEP8 Quantifiers Mr. Keyes
B:
Yes please but not too much. (not too much cheese)
A:
Can you pass me some envelopes?
B:
How many? (how many envelopes?)
A:
How many people came?
B:
A lot. (or Lots.)
Much with comparative adjectives and adverbs: much older, much faster
We can use much before comparative adjectives and adverbs to make a stronger comparison:
Sometimes the prices in the local shop are much better than the supermarket’s prices.
I feel much calmer now I know she’s safe. (much calmer than I felt before)
She’s walking much more slowly since her operation. (much more slowly than before)
Too much, too many and so much, so many
Too much, too many with a noun
We often use too before much and many. It means ‘more than necessary’. We can use too much before an uncountable
noun and too many before a plural noun, or without a noun when the noun is obvious:
GEP8 Quantifiers Mr. Keyes
I bought too much food. We had to throw some of it away.
They had a lot of work to do. Too much. (too much work)
There are too many cars on the road. More people should use public transport.
There are 35 children in each class. It’s too many. (too many children)
So much, so many with a noun
We use so rather than very before much and many in affirmative clauses to emphasise a very large quantity of something:
He has so much money!
Not: He has very much money!
There were so many jobs to do.
As much as, as many as
When we want to make comparisons connected with quantity, we use as much as and as many as:
Try and find out as much information as you can.
You can ask as many questions as you want.
See also:
• As … as
• As much as, as many as
Much, many and a lot of, lots of: typical errors
• We use much with uncountable nouns and many with countable nouns:
GEP8 Quantifiers Mr. Keyes
It doesn’t need much effort.
Not: It doesn’t need many effort.
• We usually use a lot of and lots of rather than much and many in informal affirmative clauses:
There are a lot of monuments and a lot of historic buildings in Rome.
Not: There are many monuments and many historic buildings in Rome.
She gave me a lot of information.
Not: She gave me much information.
• We don’t use of after much or many when they come immediately before a noun without an article (a/an, the),
demonstrative (this, that), possessive (my, your) or pronoun (him, them):
They haven’t made many friends here.
Not: They haven’t made many of friends here.
• We don’t use a lot of without a noun:
A:
Do many people work in your building?
B:
Yes. Quite a lot. (quite a lot of people)
Not: Quite a lot of.