English Grammar

A LOT OF - MUCH - MANY

Words to express quantities, amounts and degree.

A lot of, much and many are used to talk about quantities, amounts and degree.

A LOT OF :
A lot of can be used in all sentences: affirmative, negative and interrogative, with both countable and uncountable nouns.

We learned a lot of new English words.
We didn't learn a lot of grammar.
Did you learn a lot of English expressions?

There is hardly any difference between a lot of and lots of. Lots of is slightly more informal.

The new owner made a lot of money on the stock market.
Charlie's got lots of money and he's generous with it.

A lot (without of) means a great deal. A lot is not followed by a noun.

Tom knows a lot of vocabulary.
Charlie is talkative. He talks a lot.

MUCH :
Much is used with uncountable nouns (for example: 'much English')

I don't know much English yet.
Do you get much homework to do?

MANY :
Many is used with plural countable nouns (for example: 'many words')

I don't know many words yet.
Do you get many exercises to do?

Much and many are more commonly used in negative and interrogative sentences.
They are rarely used in affirmative sentences, except:

If they begin a sentence:
- Much of what was said was confusing.
- Much thought was given to the matter.
- Many people believe all they hear.
- Many experts query the validity of the theory.
If they are preceded by ‘so’, ‘as’ and ‘too’ and in some expressions with ‘very’:
- There was much noise.
- There was so much noise that I couldn’t hear very well.
- We ate many cherries.
- You can eat as many cherries as you like.
- They gave us much information.
- They gave us too much information.
- I enjoyed the film much.
- I enjoyed the film very much.
After 'there is/are':
- There is much to be learned from our elders.
- There are many grammar books in the library.
In formal or written English, for example in newspaper reports and headlines.
- The results of the elections are causing much concern.
- A recent article outlined the many factors that led to the war.

MUCH and MANY + OF:

Before articles (a/an, the), demonstratives (this, that), possessives (my, your) or pronouns (her, them), we need to use of with much and many:

Much of his life was devoted to humanitarian causes.
Not many of the witnesses could describe the attacker.

MUCH vs TOO MUCH

MUCH TOO Excessively: with an adjective or adverb	TOO MUCH Too great in quantity or degree
- The food was much too salty. - It’s raining much too heavily. - Joe eats junk food much too often.	- I put too much salt in the food. - It is raining too much to go out. - Too much junk food is not good.
MUCH TOO MUCH A far larger amount than necessary or advisable: - Alex shouldn’t drive home. He’s had much too much to drink! - Eva is obviously nervous. She’s talking much too much!

QUICK SUMMARY OF THE USE OF 'a lot', 'a lot of', 'much' and 'many':

We learn a lot of English.	I don't know a lot of English.	Do you learn a lot of English?
She spends much time on her homework.. She spends a lot of time on her homework.	She doesn't spend much/a lot of time on her homework.	Does she spend much/a lot of time on her homework?
Sam watches many domentaries on TV. Sam watches a lot of documentaries on TV.	Sam doesn't watch many/a lot of films on TV.	Does Sam watch many/a lot of news reports on TV?
But: Much effort went into the preparation. Many people drive too fast.	It doesn't require much/a lot of preparation. We don't meet many/a lot of people.	Does it require much/a lot of preparation? Do you meet many/a lot of people?

See also: countable-uncountable nouns

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