A lot, many and much
How to choose between a lot, many and much
These three words have the same meaning but different usage. Which word to use depends on two factors:
- on the noun — is it countable or uncountable
- on the type of sentence — is it positive or negative / question
| Positive | Negative and question | |
|---|---|---|
| Uncountable noun |
a lot of We have a lot of food. |
much I don't have much time. |
| Countable plural noun |
a lot of / many I have a lot of (or many) friends on Facebook. |
a lot of / many I haven't got a lot of (or many) friends on Facebook. |
How much and How many
To ask about the quantity of something we say:
- How much…? — if the noun is uncountable
- How many…? — if the noun is countable
Examples
How much time do you need?
How much money do you pay for the Internet?
How many brothers and sisters do you have?
How many people did he invite?
Much and a lot as adverbs
We can use much and a lot without a noun, as an adverb. In this case, we keep the same principle as in the table above:
- we use "much" in negative and question sentences
- we use "a lot" in positive sentences
Examples
Does he smoke much?
Do you travel much?
I listened to the speaker, but I didn't understand much.
Lisa reads a lot.
Greg and I like each other a lot.