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Much / Many

Indicating quantity for count and noncount nouns

empty refrigerator
 

 

Much / Many in Questions & Negative statements
MUCH

Use much with a noncount noun to indicate a large quantity. Use much in a negative sentence or a question. 
NEGATIVE SENTENCE / QUESTION 

Not much food is in the refrigerator. 

Is there much food in the refrigerator?
MANY

Use many with a plural count noun to indicate a large number. Use many in a negative sentence or question. 
NEGATIVE SENTENCE / QUESTION

Not many snacks are in the refrigerator.

Are there many snacks in the refrigerator? 
 

Also see count / noncount nouns  |  some/ any 

 

 

 

 

Much / Many

In Positive Statements

snacks
 

 

"Many" in Positive Statements
MUCH

Much is uncommonly used in a positive sentence except for scholarly contexts such as medical journals or reference books. Reword the sentence using some or a lot of.
POSITIVE SENTENCE

* Much food is in the refrigerator.    (Incorrect – use some or a lot of)

Some food is in the refrigerator.

A lot of food is in the refrigerator.

Much food can be preserved in a refrigerator.  (Use in a scholarly context only.) 

MANY

Many is uncommonly used in a positive sentence except for scholarly contexts such as medical journals or reference books. Reword the sentence using several or a lot of.
POSITIVE SENTENCE

*Many snacks are in the refrigerator. (Use a lot of , several)

Several snacks are in the refrigerator.

A lot of snacks are in the refrigerator.  

Many snacks have high amounts of sodium. (scholarly context)
 

*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.

 

 

 

 

Much of / Many of

Quantity of something

food
 

 

Much of / Many of
MUCH OF

Use much of before a, an, or the + a singular count or noncount noun to indicate a portion of something. Use singular verb agreement.

Much of the food is fresh.    (positive sentence)

 

Much of the food isn't fresh.   (negative sentence)

Is much of the food fresh?   (question)

How much of a watermelon can you eat?

MANY OF

Use many of before the + plural count noun to indicate a quantity of items in the group. Use plural verb agreement.

Many of the snacks are fresh.    (positive)

 

Many of the snacks aren't fresh.    (negative)

Are many of the snacks fresh?   (question)

—   "How many of some…"  is not used. 

 

 

 

 

 

So Much / So Many

Emphasis on the Quantity

fried potatoes
 

 

So Much /  So Many
SO MUCH – SINGULAR

Use so much with a noncount noun and a singular verb.  So much emphasizes quantity.

So much chicken is left over from las night.

We ate so much chicken last night.

Not so much chicken was eaten  / We didn't eat so much chicken
SO MANY – PLURAL

Use so many with a count noun and a plural verb. .  So many emphasizes quantity.

So many french fries are fattening.

We ate so many french fries last night.

Not so many fries were eaten.  We didn't eat so many fries.
 

 

 

 

 

Much More / Many More

Emphasis on Greater Amounteggs

 

 

 

Much more / Many more
MUCH MORE

Use much more with a noncount noun to emphasize the quantity or make a comparison. Use a singular verb.

Much more food is in our refrigerator.  (emphasis on how much)

You eat much more food than I do.   (comparison of how much)
MANY MORE

Use many more with a plural count noun to emphasize quantity or make a comparison. Use a plural verb.

Many more eggs are needed for this recipe.

You eat many more eggs than I do each week.   

 

See Much / More.  

 

 

 

 

So Much / Such

Emphasis on Quantity vs Quality

 

 

 

So Much / Such
SO MUCH… THAT

Use so much to emphasize the quantity of a noncount noun.  (singular verb)
EMPHASIS ON QUANTITY RESULT

So much delicious food is available

that we eat too much.

So much fresh seafood is available

that we buy a lot of it.

So many cherries are available
(count noun)

that we eat some and freeze the rest.
SUCH… THAT

Use such … that to emphasize quality of a count or noncount verb.   (The verb agrees with the noun of the such-phrase.)
EMPHASIS ON QUALITY RESULT

Such delicious food is available

that we enjoy tasting it.

Such fresh seafood is available

that we enjoy eating it.

Such sweet cherries are available

that we love eating them.
 

available (adj.) – on hand, easy to get, readily obtainable
See So/Such-that. 

 

 

 

 

Practice 1

Advantages to Being Bald

balding man
 

 

Decide whether the sentence needs the quantifier much or many.

You will need to know if the noun is count or noncount. Noncount/Count

  1. Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence. 
  2. Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check 1-10" button at the bottom, or click the "check" button as you go.

 

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.
  (wish they had it too)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Practice 2

In the Work Place

job
 

 

Much and Many
  1. Select correct or incorrect.
  2. Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check 11-20" button at the bottom, or click the "check" button as you go.

 

11.
I don't have many difficulty at work.
   

12.
I don't have much problems.
   

13.
I don't like many advices. 
   

14.
I don't get many suggestions either.
   

15.
I think other people don't have many imagination.
   

16.
They may not have many ideas either.
   

17.
I have much experience in my work.
   

18.
A few years ago, I didn't have much knowledge.
   

19.
My boss wouldn't give me many jobs.
   

20.
Now I have many more confidences.
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Practice 3

Title

job seeker
 

 

Read for Errors

A lot of young people in their twenties are frustrated because there aren't many jobs for them.  Many kids have borrowed much money to go to college and get a degree. However, after they graduate, they aren't finding much opportunities.  They have heard much advice about working hard, but they can't find jobs where they can prove themselves. Because of this problem, many kids are taking internships.

They learn and work at the same time. They get many experience whie working with a mentor.  However, they don't get much money.  The students hope that after working a few months, they will get many good recommendations, which will help them get many more job offers. With both a degree and work experience, a student is such more likely to get the job that he or she wants.

frustrated (n.) – upset because they are not making progress

degree (n.) – a certificate of graduation (finishing college or university)

internship (n.) – an unpaid or low-paid learning position in a business or company

mentor (n.) – a person who works one-to-one to train a student-employee

recommendation (n.) – a positive letter to a future employer

 

 

 

Edit for Errors
  1. Edit the sentence(s) in the text box.
  2. Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check 21-30" button at the bottom, or click the "check" button as you go.

 

21.
A lot of young people in their twenties are frustrated because there aren't many jobs for them.


22.
Many kids have borrowed much money to go to college and get a degree..


23.
However, after they graduate, they aren't finding much opportunities.


24.
They have heard much advice about working hard, but they can't find jobs where they can prove themselves..


25.
Because of this problem, many kids are taking internships.


26.
They get many experience whie working with a mentor.


27.
However, they don't get much money..


28.
The students hope that after  working a few months, they will get many good recommendations.


29.
The recommendations will help them get many more job offers.


30.
With both a degree and work experience, a student is such more likely to get the job that he or she wants.