How not to get confused when using much and many? Just pay attention to the rules of use, because it was no coincidence that the British came up with two words with the same value. They are not interchangeable: in some cases you will only need much, and in others - only many. Here 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. We must remember once and for all that many is “friendly” only with countable nouns, and much- with uncountables.

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 indicate that they are best avoided in positive sentences. That is much And many V 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 + countable 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. – Many 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 approval a lot of. By the way, you can use it in absolutely any context. Even if you suddenly doubt what is suitable for this proposal, a lot of will always help out, since it can be used for both countable and uncountable nouns.

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 mistakes in my 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 These apply specifically to nouns; you cannot use these words with verbs. But what to do when it is important to “strengthen” the meaning of an action? Suitable here a lot(without pretext 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?

Using how much how many

Concerning uses 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, A how many- with countable ones.

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. The correct use of these pronouns determines the meaning of the phrase. How do you understand when you can say “a lot” or “a little”, “a little” or “too much”? We will consider all questions about similarities and differences 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”, “several” or “many”. Thus, we are trying to indicate a not entirely specific amount of something. Usage in English much, many, a lot of, few, little sometimes it causes difficulty. However, these pronouns are very often found in speech and, from them correct use, the meaning of the phrase depends.

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) little

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

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 a suitable 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 (not enough, not enough).

Many and few are placed before countable ones:

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 a lot of books about animals?
Unfortunately, he has few friends. Unfortunately, he has few friends (few, not enough)

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

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

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

Note:Plenty of transmits more value 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 - best used in negative or interrogative sentences. A lot of - also conveying the meaning of “a lot” - it is advisable to use it in the 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 states that the pronoun much can convey the meaning very, significantly, 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 didn't do it much sooner. “He did it much faster.”

Because, little, few have a slightly negative meaning (not enough, not enough, I would like more), then their use sounds better in negative sentences. If you want to convey the meaning a little, but enough, a little, just a little, then put the indefinite article “a” in front of them - a few, a little. It is more appropriate to use this combination in affirmative expressions, as it carries a positive connotation. Please 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 only has a few rooms.

As you can see, nothing complicated to use pronouns much, many, few, little no. The main thing is to look carefully at the noun next to it and the type of sentence, and your speech will be literate and understandable.

What is the difference between a lot of and lots of in English?

Here you can find out what the difference is between English phrases a lot of and lots of.

The main function of the phrases a lot of and lots of is to point out a large number of someone or something. These phrases can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. Both of them are translated as "many, large number".

Despite external differences, big difference in meaning there is no between them. Let's look at an example:

He's bought a lot of f lowers for her. = He’s bought lots of flowers for her. - He bought a lot of flowers for her.

It is believed that a lot of sounds a little more formal than lots of. The phrase lots of is better suited for informal settings. Although the difference is actually very small.

Some students wonder if it is possible to use a lot of and lots of in questions and negatives. Answer: of course, you can, but still a lot of and lots of it's more common to see in affirmative sentences. In questions and negatives, the words much/many are more often used.

This is a convention confirmed by some grammatical sources, but there will be no error if you use a lot of and lots of in all types of sentences, especially the construction of lots of. It is more common in colloquial speech and goes better with uncountable nouns.
Let's look at a few more examples:

I don’t have lots of patience to deal with her, do you? “I don’t have that much patience to mess with her, do you?”
Billy gave her lots of money to buy some new clothes. - Billy gave her a lot of money so she could buy new clothes.
Have you eaten lots of fruit? -Have you eaten a lot of fruit?
They didn't have a lot of choices indeed. - They really had little choice.

The form a lot can be used independently to mean "very, quite often". For example:
I attend the gym a lot. - I go to the gym quite often.
Do you like daffodils? A lot. - Do you like daffodils? Yes very.

How not to get confused when using much and many? Just pay attention to the rules of use, because it was 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. Here 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. We must remember once and for all that many is “friendly” only with countable nouns, and much- with uncountables.

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 indicate that they are best avoided in positive sentences. That is much And many in English 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 + countable 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. – Many 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 approval a lot of. By the way, you can use it in absolutely any context. Even if you suddenly doubt what is suitable for this proposal, a lot of will always help out, since it can be used for both countable and uncountable nouns.

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 mistakes in my 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 These apply specifically to nouns; you cannot use these words with verbs. But what to do when it is important to “strengthen” the meaning of an action? Suitable here a lot(without pretext 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?

Using how much how many

Concerning uses 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 ones.