MANY and MUCH

MANY and MUCH

(and also A LOT)

MUCH/MANY WITH A NOUN

We use MUCH for uncountable nouns (singular) and MANY for countable nouns (plurals).

Both can be used in interrogative and negative sentences. MUCH is never used in positive sentences (but we can use "very/too much"). MANY can be used in affirmative sentences, but not often.

A LOT OF ___ / LOTS OF ____

can be used in any situation (countables, uncountables, interrogative, negative, affirmative).

Examples with MANY:

• I know many stories

• There aren’t many children here

• Have you got many brothers?

Examples with MUCH

• I drank too much coffee today

• I don’t drink much water in the meals

• Have you got much experience with this?

Examples with A LOT

• You must eat a lot of fruit

• I don’t have a lot of friends here

• Do you have a lot money?

MUCH AS ADVERB

• I don't work much now, I'm trying to relax (how I work)

• I'm much taller than you (how I am)

•  I like her very much (how I like her)

• Thank you very much (how I thank you)

As usual, we can also say A LOT:

•  I don't work a lot

• I'm a lot taller than you

• I like her a lot

• Thanks a lot

Let's practice

Multiple Choice

We have ______ oranges

• a lot of

• much

Multiple Choice

How ____ is this? It's ten dollars

• many

• much

Multiple Choice

David has _____ rice, but Tyler doesn't have ____

• a lot of / many

• a lot of / much

Multiple Choice

I wrote ____ poems

• many

• much

Multiple Choice

I have ____ money

• lots of

• many

Multiple Choice

Do you like soccer? Yes, _____

• many

• a lot