Page 137 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

M u c h ( o f ) , m a n y ( o f ) , a l o t o f , l o t s ( o f ) , e t c .

Much (of) and many (of) are used to talk about quantities and amounts. Much (of) is used with
n uncountable nouns and many (of) with plural nouns (see also Unit 69):
• • Many people (= plural noun) eat too much meat (= uncountable noun).
Much of can also be used with a singular countable noun to mean 'a large part of:
• Much of the national park was destroyed in the fire.
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.

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

...in negative sentences to emphasise that we • He didn't show much interest in what I said.
are talking about small (or smaller than • Not many of my friends knew I was getting
expected) quantities or amounts. married.
...in questions to ask about quantities or • Have you got much homework to do?
amounts. • How many questions could you answer?

In affirmative sentences we often use a lot of, lots of, or plenty of (see C) to talk about large
amounts and quantities, particularly in conversation and informal writing. Using much (of)
often sounds a little formal, and many (of) is often very formal or inappropriate:
• 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)
• I've given the problem a lot of thought, ('much thought' is very formal)
• John offered me a lot of money for the car. {not much money)
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:
• Much debate has been generated by Thornton's controversial paper.
• A great deal of the exhibition was devoted to his recent work, (or Much of...)
• A large amount of the food was inedible, (or Much of...)
In formal contexts we can also use much and many as pronouns:
• 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.
Notice that in both formal and informal contexts we can use much and many in affirmative
sentences after as, so, and too:
• I'd say there were twice as many women at the meeting as men.
• She gave me so much spaghetti, I couldn't eat it all.
We rarely use much and many without a noun at the end of affirmative sentences. Instead we
use phrases such as a lot or lots:
• 'Have you got any small nails?' 'Yes, I've got a lot / lots.' (not ...I've got many.)
But we can use much and many at the end of affirmative sentences after as, so, and too:
• Do you want some of the pudding? I've got too much.

We often use plenty of instead of a lot of or lots of. However, plenty of means 'enough, or more
than enough' and is therefore not likely in certain contexts. Compare:
• We took lots of food and drink on our walk through the hills, (or ...plenty of...) and
• Jim doesn't look well. He's lost a lot of weight, ('plenty of is unlikely here)
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.)
Much (of) and many (of) =