Much, many, a lot of
How to say a large amount of something. Much for uncountable nouns, many for plural nouns, a lot of for both.
When you use it
You need these words whenever you talk about a large quantity without giving a number: a lot of work, many people, not much time. The choice depends on two things. First, is the noun countable (cups, chairs, friends) or uncountable (water, milk, money)? Second, is the sentence affirmative, negative or a question? Everyday English is quite strict here, and the wrong word sounds immediately foreign.
How it is formed
| Uncountable noun | Plural countable noun | |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | a lot of water, lots of water | a lot of cups, lots of cups, many cups |
| Negative | not much water, not a lot of water | not many cups, not a lot of cups |
| Question | How much water? Is there much water? | How many cups? Are there many cups? |
Much goes with uncountable nouns, many with plural countable nouns. In affirmative sentences, spoken English prefers a lot of (or the more informal lots of) for both kinds of noun. Much in an affirmative sentence sounds formal or old-fashioned (there is much to do); many in an affirmative sentence is fine but a little formal. In negatives and questions, much and many are the neutral choice, and a lot of is also possible.
Very much and very many make the quantity stronger in negatives: not very much time, not very many friends. Too much and too many say the quantity is a problem; see the lesson on too and enough.
At the end of a sentence, without a noun, a lot loses its of: I read a lot, thanks a lot. Much and many can also stand alone when the noun is clear from context: How many do you want? Not many.
Some nouns are uncountable in English even though the idea seems countable: information, advice, news, furniture, money, hair, bread, homework. These always take much, never many, and they have no plural form.
Examples
- How much water do you drink a day?
- How many cups of coffee did Tom have this morning?
- There isn't much milk left, so buy some on your way home.
- We don't have many chairs. Can you bring one?
- Anna has a lot of friends in this town.
- I spent a lot of money on books this month.
- Do you get much rain here in April?
- Tom reads a lot, mostly on the train.
Common mistakes
- ✗ I have much friends.
✓ I have a lot of friends. / I have many friends.
Friends is plural and countable, so much is impossible. Ukrainian багато and Russian много work for every noun, so the countable distinction has no anchor in the mother tongue and has to be checked each time. - ✗ How many money do you need?
✓ How much money do you need?
Money is uncountable in English. Ukrainian гроші and Russian деньги are plural nouns, which pushes learners towards many. - ✗ She gave me many advices. / There are a lot of informations on this site.
✓ She gave me a lot of advice. / There is a lot of information on this site.
Advice and information have no plural in English. Ukrainian порада and Russian совет are ordinary countable nouns, so the English behaviour feels strange, but it is fixed. - ✗ I very like this song.
✓ I like this song a lot. / I like this song very much.
Ukrainian дуже люблю and Russian очень люблю put the intensifier before the verb. English very cannot modify a verb; use a lot or very much after the object. - ✗ Thanks a lot of. / Tom talks a lot of.
✓ Thanks a lot. / Tom talks a lot.
Of only appears when a noun follows: a lot of time. With no noun, it is just a lot.
Try it
- How ___ sugar do you take in your tea?
- There aren't ___ people in the park today.
- Anna has ___ work this week, so she is tired.
- How ___ languages does Tom speak?
- We don't have ___ time. The train leaves in ten minutes.