Page 137 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

M u c h ( o f ) , m a n y ( o f ) , a a l o t o f , l o t s ( o f ) , e t c .
lots
many
(of),
(of),
etc.
(of),
Much
of,
lot
Much (of) and many (of) are used to talk about quantities and amounts. Much (of) is used with
Much (of) and many (of) are used to talk about quantities and amounts. Much (of) is used with
(see
and
many
nouns
also
69):
(of)
uncountable
Unit
with plural nouns
n @ uncountable nouns and many (of) with plural nouns (see also Unit 69):
Many people (= plural noun) eat too much meat (= uncountable noun).
• * • ¢ Many people (= plural noun) eat too much meat (= uncountable noun).
large part of:
singular countable noun to
of can
be
used with
mean
'a
a
also
Much
Much of can also be used with a singular countable noun to mean ‘a large part of:
Much ofthe national park was destroyed in the fire.
• ¢ Much of the national park was destroyed in the fire.
much and
many without a noun
if the meaning is clear:
We can use
We can use much and many without a noun if the meaning is clear:
• ¢ Can you get some sugar when you go shopping? There isn't much left.
Can you get some sugar when you go shopping? There isn't much left.

B Much (of) and many (of) are mainly used...
Much (of) and many (of) are mainly used...

that
we
emphasise
sentences
negative
to
...in negative sentences to emphasise that we | * • He didn't show much interest in what I said.
He didn't show much interest in what I said.
..in
many of my friends knew I was
getting
smaller than
(or
small
talking about
are
Not
are talking about small (or smaller than • * Not many of my friends knew I was getting
quantities
or amounts.
expected) quantities or amounts. married.
married.
expected)

..dn questions to ask about quantities or • « Have you got much homework to do?
...in questions to ask about quantities or
Have you got much homework to do?

amounts. • ¢ How many questions could you answer?
amounts.
How many questions could you answer?

a
plenty
of,
talk
of
often
lots
we
of,
C)
about
(see
large
use
to
affirmative sentences
or
lot
In In affirmative sentences we often use a lot of, lots of, or plenty of (see C) to talk about large
and
and quantities,
informal writing.
(of)
particularly
in conversation
Using
much
amounts
amounts and quantities, particularly in conversation and informal writing. Using much (of)
formal,
a
little
or inappropriate:
many
formal
(of)
often very
is
sounds
and
often sounds a little formal, and many (of) is often very formal or inappropriate:
often
• ¢ Lots of her students went on to become teachers. ('Many of is a little more formal)
Lots of her students went on to become teachers. (‘Many of is a little more formal)
• * We had plenty of hotels to choose from. ('many hotels' is more formal)
We had plenty of hotels to choose from, (‘many hotels' is more formal)
I've given the problem a lot of thought, (‘much thought' is very formal)
• * I've given the problem a lot of thought. ('much thought' is very formal)
{not much money)
a lot of money for the car.
offered me
• ¢ John offered me a lot of money for the car. (zot much money)
John
However, in formal contexts, such as academic writing, much (of) and many (of) are often
However, in formal contexts, such as academic writing, much (of) and many (of) are often
preferred, or phrases such as a great deal of or a large amount/number of:
preferred, or phrases such as a great deal of or a large amount/number of:
• ¢ Much debate has been generated by Thornton's controversial paper.
Much debate has been generated by Thornton's controversial paper.
(or Much of...)
• ¢ A great deal of the exhibition was devoted to his recent work, (or Much of...)
A great deal of the exhibition was devoted to his recent work.
(or Much of...)
A large amount of the food was inedible.
• ¢ A large amount of the food was inedible, (or Much of...)
much and
many as pronouns:
use
also
In formal contexts we can also use much and many as pronouns:
In formal contexts we-can
Much remains to be done before the drug can be used with humans.
• « Much remains to be done before the drug can be used with humans.
• « Many (= many people) have argued that she is the finest poet of our generation.
Many (= many people) have argued that she is the finest poet of our generation.
Notice that in both formal and informal contexts we can use much and many in affirmative
Notice that in both formal and informal contexts we can use much and many in affirmative
after as, so, and too:
sentences
sentences after as, so, and too:
• ¢ I'd say there were twice many women at the meeting as men.
I'd say there were twice as as many women at the meeting as men.
She gave me so much spaghetti, I couldn't eat it all.
• « She gave me so much spaghetti, I couldn't eat it all.
of affirmative sentences.
at the
Instead we
much and many without
use
a
end
noun
We rarely use much and many without a noun at the end of affirmative sentences. Instead we
We rarely
@® Much (of) and mary (of) => (EE) left, (not We've got plenty time left.) (or ...plenty of...) and or more
a lot or lots:
use phrases such as as a lot or lots:
use phrases such
(not ...I've got many.)
'Yes, I've got a lot / lots.'
• ¢
'Have you got any small nails?' 'Yes, I've got a lot / lots." (not ...I've got many.)
‘Have you got any small nails?'
sentences
use
after
and too:
so,
as,
much and
of affirmative
at the end
many
But we can
But we can use much and many at the end of affirmative sentences after as, so, and too:
I've got too much.
• ¢«
Do you want some of the pudding? I've got too much.
Do you want some of the pudding?
plenty of means
'enough,
of.
use
plenty of instead of a lot of or lots
However,
We often
We often use plenty of instead of a lot of or lots of. However, plenty of means 'enough, or more
and is therefore not likely in certain contexts.
Compare:
enough'
than
than enough' and is therefore not likely in certain contexts. Compare:
We took lots of food and drink on our walk through the hills.
• *
We took lots of food and drink on our walk through the hills, (or ...plenty of...) and
('plenty of
is unlikely here)
Jim doesn't look well. He's lost a lot of weight.
• +
Jim doesn't look well. He's lost a lot of weight, (‘plenty of is unlikely here)
plenty without of before
use
following noun:
a
that we
don't
Notice
Notice that we don't use plenty without of before a following noun:
We've got plenty of time left. (not We've got plenty time left.)
We've got plenty of time
• ¢
Much (of) and many (of) =