Much and Many Exercises (how much, how many, a lot of)
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Much, many and a lot of
Use many with plural countable nouns and much with uncountable nouns. We use them in questions and negatives: How many books? We haven't got much time. In affirmative sentences, use a lot of.
- Many:
- Many goes with plural countable nouns: many books, many friends. Use it in questions and negatives: Have you got many friends? I haven't got many books.
- Much:
- Much goes with uncountable nouns: much money, much time. Use it in questions and negatives: Is there much milk? We haven't got much time.
- A lot of:
- A lot of goes with both. It is the normal choice in affirmative sentences: We've got a lot of books. She drinks a lot of water.
- How much / how many:
- Ask about quantity with how many + plural noun: How many eggs? Ask with how much + uncountable noun: How much milk? Also use how much for prices: How much is this bag?
- A few and a little:
- A few means a small number, with plural countable nouns: a few friends. A little means a small amount, with uncountable nouns: a little sugar.
- Check the noun:
- Before you choose, decide: can you count it? Books, friends and eggs: many. Money, time, milk and water: much.
Examples
How many brothers have you got?
Brothers are countable, so we use how many.
How much water do you drink?
Water is uncountable, so we use how much.
We haven't got many chairs.
Many goes with plural countable nouns in negative sentences.
I haven't got much time today.
Time is uncountable. Much goes with it in negative sentences.
There are a lot of people in the park.
In an affirmative sentence, we use a lot of with both types of noun.
I've got a few friends here and a little money.
A few goes with friends (countable). A little goes with money (uncountable).
Practice exercises
Choose the Correct Word
Choose the correct word or phrase.
1.How ___ apples do you want?
2.How ___ milk is in the fridge?
3.We haven't got ___ money.
4.There are ___ people in the park today.
5.I've got ___ friends in this city. Only three.
6.I only want ___ sugar in my tea.
Fill in the Blank
Type the missing word or words.
Put the Words in Order
Click the words in the correct order to build the sentence.
13. Build the sentence:
14. Build the sentence:
15. Build the sentence:
16. Build the sentence:
True or False
Decide if each statement is true or false.
17.We use 'many' with countable nouns: 'many books'.
18.'How much books have you got?' is correct English.
19.'I've got much money' is the normal way to say it.
20.'A lot of' can go with 'friends' and with 'water'.
21.'I drink a few water' is correct English.
Much, Many and A Lot Of: How to Talk About Quantity
We use much, many and a lot of to talk about quantity. The word you choose depends on the noun. Many goes with plural countable nouns: many books, many friends, many eggs. Much goes with uncountable nouns: much money, much time, much milk.
We use much and many mainly in questions and negative sentences: Have you got many friends? I haven't got many friends. Is there much milk? There isn't much milk. In affirmative sentences, we usually say a lot of: I've got a lot of friends. There is a lot of milk. A lot of works with both countable and uncountable nouns.
To ask about quantity, use how many with plural countable nouns and how much with uncountable nouns: How many eggs do you want? How much milk do you want? We also use how much to ask the price: How much is this bag?
For small quantities, use a few with countable nouns and a little with uncountable nouns: I've got a few friends here. I want a little sugar. Do not mix them: a few sugar and a little friends are not correct.
The exercises above practice much, many, a lot of, a few and a little. Before you answer, check the noun. If you can count it, think many or a few. If you cannot count it, think much or a little.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between much and many?
Many goes with plural countable nouns: many books. Much goes with uncountable nouns: much money. We use both mainly in questions and negative sentences.
Can I use much in an affirmative sentence?
Not usually. In affirmative sentences we say a lot of: I've got a lot of money. Much is normal in questions and negatives: Have you got much money? I haven't got much money.
When do I use how much and how many?
Use how many with plural countable nouns: how many eggs. Use how much with uncountable nouns: how much milk. Use how much also to ask a price: how much is this bag?
What is the difference between a few and a little?
A few goes with plural countable nouns: a few friends. A little goes with uncountable nouns: a little sugar. Both mean a small quantity.
How do I know if a noun is countable or uncountable?
Ask if you can count it with numbers. You can say two eggs, so eggs is countable. You cannot say two moneys, so money is uncountable. Milk, time, water and rice are also uncountable.
Answer key
1. How ___ apples do you want?
Answer: many
Apples are countable, so we use how many.
2. How ___ milk is in the fridge?
Answer: much
Milk is uncountable, so we use how much.
3. We haven't got ___ money.
Answer: much
Money is uncountable, so we use much in a negative sentence.
4. There are ___ people in the park today.
Answer: a lot of
People is plural and countable. In an affirmative sentence, a lot of is the normal choice. We do not use much or a little with people.
5. I've got ___ friends in this city. Only three.
Answer: a few
Friends are countable, so we use a few. Three is a small number.
6. I only want ___ sugar in my tea.
Answer: a little
Sugar is uncountable, so we use a little.
7. How ___ brothers have you got?
Answer: many
Brothers are countable, so we use how many.
8. I haven't got ___ time today.
Answer: much
Time is uncountable, so we use much in a negative sentence.
9. We've got ___ milk. There are ten bottles.
Answer: a lot of
In an affirmative sentence, we use a lot of. It goes with uncountable nouns like milk.
10. There are only a ___ cars in the street. Two or three.
Answer: few
Cars are countable, so we use a few.
11. How ___ is this bag? It's twenty dollars.
Answer: much
We use how much to ask about a price.
12. She hasn't got ___ friends here.
Answer: many
Friends are countable, so we use many in a negative sentence.
13. water / how / much / drink / do / you / ?
Answer: How much water do you drink?
The order is how much + noun + do + subject + verb.
14. many / you / how / have / got / sisters / ?
Answer: How many sisters have you got?
The order is how many + plural noun + have + you + got.
15. got / time / much / I / haven't / .
Answer: I haven't got much time.
In a negative sentence, much goes before the uncountable noun time.
16. of / lot / water / drinks / she / a / .
Answer: She drinks a lot of water.
In an affirmative sentence, we use a lot of before the noun. It goes with uncountable nouns like water.
17. We use 'many' with countable nouns: 'many books'.
Answer: True
Many goes with plural countable nouns.
18. 'How much books have you got?' is correct English.
Answer: False
Books are countable, so we say how many books.
19. 'I've got much money' is the normal way to say it.
Answer: False
In an affirmative sentence we use a lot of: I've got a lot of money. Much is for questions and negatives.
20. 'A lot of' can go with 'friends' and with 'water'.
Answer: True
A lot of goes with plural countable nouns and with uncountable nouns.
21. 'I drink a few water' is correct English.
Answer: False
Water is uncountable. We say a little water, and we use a few with countable nouns.