A lotof much-many-a little-a few

A LOT OF - MUCH - MANYA LOT OF - MUCH - MANY

Is there much ham on the plate?

No, there isn’t much. There are only three slices.


Has she got many friends?

Yes, she’s got a lot of friends.


Are there many people in theswimming pool?

No, there aren’t many.

There are only two.


• We use a lot of/lots of with plural countable nouns(books, cars, etc.) and uncountable nouns (e.g. sugar,

milk, etc.) in positive statements.

She’s got lots of/a lot of books.

There’s a lot of milk in the fridge.

Note: We omit of when a lot is not followed by a noun.

Are there many people in the room?

Yes, there are a lot.


• We normally use much with uncountable nouns in

questions and negations.

How much money have you got?

There isn’t much sugar in the bowl.


• We normally use many with plural countable nouns

in questions and negations.

Are there many books on the shelf?

There aren’t many books on the shelf.


• In questions we use how much to ask about the amount of something and how many to ask about thenumber of things.

How much + uncountable nounHow many + countable noun

How much sugar do we need? A kilo.(we want to know the amount)

How many boys are there in your class? Twenty.

(we want to know the number)

Affirmative Question Negative

Countablenouns

a lot (of)lots of

(how) many many

Uncountablenouns

a lot of (how) much much


A: How many A: How many applesapples have you got? have you got?

B: Not B: Not manymany ..

Ask and answerAsk and answer

COUNTABLES - UNCOUNTABLESCOUNTABLES - UNCOUNTABLES

A: How many A: How many applesapples have you got? have you got?B: B: A lotA lot

A: How much A: How much cheesecheese have you got? have you got?B: Not B: Not muchmuch ..


A: How much A: How much cheesecheese have you got? have you got?B: B: A lotA lot ..


A:A: HowHowB:B: A lot.A lot.

manymany eggs have you got? eggs have you got?


A:A:

B:B:HowHow manymany sandwiches have you got? sandwiches have you got?Not many.Not many.


A:A:

B:B:

How How muchmuch steak have you got? steak have you got?

A lotA lot ..


A:A: How How muchmuch flour have you got? flour have you got?B:B: A lotA lot ..


COUNTABLES - UNCOUNTABLESCOUNTABLES - UNCOUNTABLES

A:A:How How manymany carrots have you got? carrots have you got?B:B: Not many.Not many.

A:A: How How muchmuch butter have you got? butter have you got?B:B: Not muchNot much ..


A:A:How How manymany biscuits have you got? biscuits have you got?B:B: Not manyNot many ..












(A) LITTLE - (A) FEW(A) LITTLE - (A) FEW

Carol has got a little flour.

She can make a cake.


Jill has got (very) little flour.

She can’t make a cake.


Carol has got a few strawberries.She can make some jam.


Jill has got (very) few strawberries.She can’t make any jam.


• We use a little/little with uncountable nouns (water,money, rice, etc.

A little means “not much but enough”.I’ve got a little money. I can buy some bread.

Little means ”hardly any, almost nothing” and can go

with very for emphasis.

They’ve got (very) little money. They can’t buy any

bread.


• We use a few/few with plural countable nouns(tomatoes, books, cups, etc.).

A few means “not many but enough”.There are a few tomatoes. We can make a salad.

Few means “hardly any, almost none” and can gowith very for emphasis.There are (very) few people in the cinema. It isalmost empty.


There is a lot of honey in the jar.


There is a little tuna in the tin.


There are a few biscuits in the packet.


There is a lot of Coke in the glass.


There is a lot of mayonnaise in the jar.


There are a few potatoes in the bag.

Education

A lotof much-many-a little-a few