Much, many and a lot of/lots of
Introduction
I don't have much money!
Definition
Much, many and a lot of/lots of are quantifiers which we use with uncountable nouns and plural countable nouns.
Construction
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| Plural countable nouns | Uncountable nouns |
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Much
Negative and interrogative |
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I don't have much money.
Do you have much money?
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Many
Negative and interrogative |
I don't have many books.
Do you have many books?
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A lot of/lots of
Affirmative, negative and interrogative
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I have a lot of books.
I don't have a lot of books.
Do you have a lot of books?
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I have a lot of money.
I don't have a lot of money.
Do you have a lot of money?
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Uses
We use much, many and a lot/lots of to talk about (often large) quantities and amounts.
In conversation it is rare to use much and many in affirmative sentences. They are used in formal, written English but a lot of/lots of is preferred for both countable and uncountable nouns in conversation and informal writing. For example:
Does he have much money?
He doesn't have much money.
He has a lot of money.
Does he have many friends?
He doesn't have many friends.
He has a lot of friends.
However, much and many are a little more acceptable in conversation at the beginning of a sentence:
Much of our food is exported.
Many people drive too fast.
If you are not sure, use a lot of in formal and informal situations with countable and uncountable nouns for affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences.
