Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 83 · A2

a lot, much, many

much goes with uncountable nouns, many with plurals, and a lot of with both. much belongs in questions and negatives; in positive sentences use a lot of. much and a lot can also stand alone (I don't go out much, we eat out a lot).

Start the lesson

14Steps · about 26 minutes

In this lesson

much, many, a lot ofA6 screens of questions
much in questions and negativesB2 screens of questions
much and a lot with no nounC1 screen of questions

Point A of 3

much, many, a lot of

much + uncountable: much food, much money, much time.

many + plural: many books, many people, many photos.

a lot of + either: a lot of food, a lot of books.

The verb follows the noun: there is a lot of traffic, there are a lot of cars.

  • Did you pack much food?
  • We haven't got much time.
  • How much milk do we need?
  • "Have you got any cash?" "Some, but not much."
  • Did you buy many presents?
  • I don't know many people here.
  • How many emails did you send?
  • "Did you take any photos?" "Some, but not many."
  • We bought a lot of food for the party.
  • Did they give you a lot of homework?
  • A lot of people work from home now. (not works)

Point A · Exercise 83.1 · part 1 of 3

Put in much or many (1 to 8), then How much or How many (9 to 12).

  1. Example

    Did you pack much food?

    AnswerDid you pack much food?

  2. There aren't cafés in this village.

  3. We haven't got milk.

  4. Were there people at the concert?

  5. Did students pass the test?

Point A · Exercise 83.1 · part 2 of 3

Put in much or many (1 to 8), then How much or How many (9 to 12).

  1. Jack hasn't got patience.

  2. I had a big breakfast, so I didn't eat at lunchtime.

  3. I haven't seen my old school friends for years.

  4. guests are coming to the wedding?

Point A · Exercise 83.1 · part 3 of 3

Put in much or many (1 to 8), then How much or How many (9 to 12).

  1. sugar do you take in your tea?

  2. cheese did you buy?

  3. players are there in a rugby union team?

Point A · Exercise 83.2 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences. Use much or many with one of these words: books, countries, luggage, people, time, times.

Use these

bookscountriesluggagepeopletimetimes

  1. Example

    I hardly ever read. There aren't many books in our house.

    AnswerI hardly ever read. There aren't many books in our house.

  2. Hurry up! We haven't got .

  3. You travel a lot, don't you? Have you been to ?

  4. Omar only moved here last month, so he doesn't know .

  5. "Have you got ?" "No, just this rucksack."

Point A · Exercise 83.2 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences. Use much or many with one of these words: books, countries, luggage, people, time, times.

Use these

bookscountriesluggagepeopletimetimes

  1. I know Barcelona really well. I've been there .

Point A · Exercise 83.3

Complete the sentences with a lot of + one of these: accidents, books, fun, interesting things, traffic.

Use these

accidentsbooksfuninteresting thingstraffic

  1. Example

    I love reading. I've got a lot of books.

    AnswerI love reading. I've got a lot of books.

  2. The science museum was brilliant. We saw .

  3. Be careful on this road. There are here.

  4. We really enjoyed the festival. We had .

  5. It took us ages to get here. There was .

Point B of 3

much in questions and negatives

Keep much for questions and negatives. Positive sentences sound odd with it, so use a lot of there instead.

many and a lot of are fine in any kind of sentence.

  • Do you eat much bread? / Do you eat a lot of bread?
  • I don't eat much bread. / I don't eat a lot of bread.
  • I eat a lot of bread. (not I eat much bread.)
  • "Do you eat much bread?" "Yes, a lot." (not Yes, much.)
  • Have you got many cousins? / We've got a lot of cousins.

Point B · Exercise 83.4 · part 1 of 2

In some of these sentences much is not natural. Change those sentences, or write OK.

  1. Example

    Do you drink much tea?

    OK

    AnswerDo you drink much tea?

  2. Example

    I drink much tea.

    I drink a lot of tea.

    AnswerI drink a lot of tea.

  3. It was a wet summer. We had much rain.

  4. There wasn't much rain last summer.

  5. It costs much money to run a car.

  6. We stayed in a hostel. It didn't cost much.

Point B · Exercise 83.4 · part 2 of 2

In some of these sentences much is not natural. Change those sentences, or write OK.

  1. Do you know much about history?

  2. "Have you got any homework?" "Yes, much."

Point C of 3

much and a lot with no noun

much and a lot can stand alone, without a noun. Again, much is for questions and negatives.

  • Leo came to the meeting, but he didn't say much.
  • "Do you go swimming much?" "No, not much." (= not often)
  • We love Italian food, so we go to that restaurant a lot. (not much)
  • I don't like this song very much.

Point C · Exercise 83.5

Write sentences about these people. Use much and a lot.

  1. Example

    Ella loves the theatre. (go to the theatre)

    She goes to the theatre a lot.

    AnswerShe goes to the theatre a lot.

  2. Example

    Owen thinks social media is a waste of time. (use social media)

    He doesn't use social media much.

    AnswerHe doesn't use social media much.

  3. Grace is a keen swimmer. (swim)

  4. Ravi hates driving. (use his car)

  5. Frank spends almost every evening at home. (go out)

  6. Mia has visited dozens of countries. (travel)

Lesson 83 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: (a) little, (a) fewBack to the course

–Right

Each point

A. much, many, a lot of–Not checkedB. much in questions and negatives–Not checkedC. much and a lot with no noun–Not checked