الرئيسيةWhat is the difference between Much and Many?
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What is the difference between Much and Many?
من طرف GNASSORA الثلاثاء 1 فبراير 2011 - 0:21
What is the difference between Much and Many?
Much vs Many Much and many – they can be a bit confusing. Many people would use them properly, but most likely based on intuitive judgment. Yet, there are definite rules on how to use the words correctly.
Both ‘much’ and ‘many’ are determiners, and have the same or similar definition. They mean ‘a lot of’, or ‘in great quantities’, or ‘a great amount’. They may mean the same, but their usage differs.
These are the rules regarding the usage of ‘much’ and ‘many’ in the English language:
If a noun is an uncountable noun (which is often in singular form), the ‘much’ determiner should be used.
Examples:
- How much money will it cost me?
- This is what I get for drinking too much coffee.
- How much sleep do you get every night?
On the other hand, the determiner ‘many’ should be used with countable nouns, or plural nouns.
Examples:
- How many brothers and sisters have you got?
- There are many empty chairs in the event.
- How many fruits are there on the table?
- Many children are impoverished in that region of the world.
- There are many challenges that lie ahead.
In affirmative sentences, ‘much’ is not usually used. ‘A lot of’, or ‘lots of’, is usually preferred.
Examples:
- I have a lot of work to do. (NOT much work)
- I do not eat a lot of rice because I am on a diet. (NOT much rice)
When ‘much’ is preceded by ’so’, ‘too’, or ‘as’, it can be comfortably used in affirmative sentences.
Examples:
- I have so much work to do!
- That’s too much rice for me to consume.
- Train as much as possible, so you can be the best you can be.
However, ‘many’ can be used in affirmative sentences extensively. It can be substituted with ‘a lot of’, or ‘lots of’, as well.
Examples:
- There are many things that we can do with this. (’lots of things’ is also correct)
- Many animals are migrating south in this time of year. (’lots of animals’ is also correct)
It's important to understand the difference between noncount and count nouns when using many and much. Noncount nouns are often used to describe large categories while count nouns are usually more specific.
Examples:
* There is a car in the street. (singular count noun)
* Question: How many cars are in the street?
* Answer: There are a few cars in the street (plural count noun)
* Question: How much traffic is there?
* Answer: There is a lot of traffic. (noncount noun)
Noncount nouns always use a singular verb. Count nouns are singular or plural.
Much and Many are usually used with the negative:
Examples:
* There aren't many students in the classroom. (perhaps 4 or 5 students)
* There isn't much food in the refrigerator. ( a small amount of food)
Any + not, never, or without expresses zero:
Examples:
* There aren't any students in the classroom (zero)
* There isn't any food in the refrigerator. It's empty.
* He went outside without any shoes. (There are no shoes on his feet.)
* They never want to eat any vegetables or drink any milk.
Much and Many are usually not used in the affirmative:
Examples:
* There are many apples in the basket. It sounds better to say...
* There are a lot of apples in the basket.
* There is much milk in the refrigerator. It sounds better to say...
* There is a lot of milk in the refrigerator.
Summary:
1. ‘Much’ should be appropriately used with uncountable nouns, while ‘Many’ should be used with countable nouns.
2. ‘Much’ is most likely used with singular nouns, while ‘Many’ is used with plurals.
3. ‘Much’ is awkward in affirmative sentences, if not preceded by ’so’, ‘too’, or ‘as’, while ‘Many’ can be used extensively in affirmative sentences.
__________________
Much vs Many Much and many – they can be a bit confusing. Many people would use them properly, but most likely based on intuitive judgment. Yet, there are definite rules on how to use the words correctly.
Both ‘much’ and ‘many’ are determiners, and have the same or similar definition. They mean ‘a lot of’, or ‘in great quantities’, or ‘a great amount’. They may mean the same, but their usage differs.
These are the rules regarding the usage of ‘much’ and ‘many’ in the English language:
If a noun is an uncountable noun (which is often in singular form), the ‘much’ determiner should be used.
Examples:
- How much money will it cost me?
- This is what I get for drinking too much coffee.
- How much sleep do you get every night?
On the other hand, the determiner ‘many’ should be used with countable nouns, or plural nouns.
Examples:
- How many brothers and sisters have you got?
- There are many empty chairs in the event.
- How many fruits are there on the table?
- Many children are impoverished in that region of the world.
- There are many challenges that lie ahead.
In affirmative sentences, ‘much’ is not usually used. ‘A lot of’, or ‘lots of’, is usually preferred.
Examples:
- I have a lot of work to do. (NOT much work)
- I do not eat a lot of rice because I am on a diet. (NOT much rice)
When ‘much’ is preceded by ’so’, ‘too’, or ‘as’, it can be comfortably used in affirmative sentences.
Examples:
- I have so much work to do!
- That’s too much rice for me to consume.
- Train as much as possible, so you can be the best you can be.
However, ‘many’ can be used in affirmative sentences extensively. It can be substituted with ‘a lot of’, or ‘lots of’, as well.
Examples:
- There are many things that we can do with this. (’lots of things’ is also correct)
- Many animals are migrating south in this time of year. (’lots of animals’ is also correct)
It's important to understand the difference between noncount and count nouns when using many and much. Noncount nouns are often used to describe large categories while count nouns are usually more specific.
Examples:
* There is a car in the street. (singular count noun)
* Question: How many cars are in the street?
* Answer: There are a few cars in the street (plural count noun)
* Question: How much traffic is there?
* Answer: There is a lot of traffic. (noncount noun)
Noncount nouns always use a singular verb. Count nouns are singular or plural.
Much and Many are usually used with the negative:
Examples:
* There aren't many students in the classroom. (perhaps 4 or 5 students)
* There isn't much food in the refrigerator. ( a small amount of food)
Any + not, never, or without expresses zero:
Examples:
* There aren't any students in the classroom (zero)
* There isn't any food in the refrigerator. It's empty.
* He went outside without any shoes. (There are no shoes on his feet.)
* They never want to eat any vegetables or drink any milk.
Much and Many are usually not used in the affirmative:
Examples:
* There are many apples in the basket. It sounds better to say...
* There are a lot of apples in the basket.
* There is much milk in the refrigerator. It sounds better to say...
* There is a lot of milk in the refrigerator.
Summary:
1. ‘Much’ should be appropriately used with uncountable nouns, while ‘Many’ should be used with countable nouns.
2. ‘Much’ is most likely used with singular nouns, while ‘Many’ is used with plurals.
3. ‘Much’ is awkward in affirmative sentences, if not preceded by ’so’, ‘too’, or ‘as’, while ‘Many’ can be used extensively in affirmative sentences.
__________________
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تاريخ التسجيل : 11/01/2011
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