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Much / Many

Indicating quantity for count and noncount nouns

 

 

Much / Many in Questions & Negative statements
MUCH MANY

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

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

A NEGATIVE SENTENCE / A QUESTION    

Not much food is in the refrigerator. 

Is there much food in the refrigerator?

 

 

 

A NEGATIVE SENTENCE / A QUESTION

snacksNot 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
MUCH MANY

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.

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.

A 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.)
 

A POSITIVE SENTENCE

snacks*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 / Many

Phrases

 

 

 

Much of / Many of
MUCH OF MANY 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.

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

 

foodMany 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
SO MUCH – SINGULAR SO MANY – PLURAL

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

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

fried potatoesSo 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
MUCH MORE MANY MORE

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

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

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

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

eggsMany more eggs are needed for this recipe.

You eat many more eggs than I do each week. 
 

See Much / More.  

 

 

So Much / Such
SO MUCH … THAT SUCH … THAT

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

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

So much delicious food is sold there

that we can buy a lot of it.

Such delicious food is sold there

that we enjoy every mouthful.

So much fresh seafood is sold there

that we can buy a lot of it.

Such fresh seafood is sold there

that it tastes as if it was just caught.
   

Such sweet cherries are sold there

that we buy a lot of them.

See So/Such-that. 

 

 

 

 

balding manPractice 1

Many

 

 

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 each menu that best completes the sentence. 
  2. Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right. 
# YOUR RESPONSE CHECK ANSWER
e.g. I'm almost bald.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
   

 

 

 

 

 

overworkedPractice 2

Much

 

If necessary, review Count

  1. Select the nouns that can complete the sentence:  I don't have much ____.
    You will need to know if the noun is count or noncount. Noncount/Count .
  2.  An asterisk * indicates an incorrect response.

 

# FEEDBACK YOUR RESPONSE
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
   

 

 

 

 

Practice 3

Many

 

  1. Select (put a check in the box) the noun if it can complete the sentence:  I don't have many ____.
    You will need to know if the noun is count or noncount. Noncount/Count .
  2.  An asterisk * indicates an incorrect response.

 

# FEEDBACK YOUR RESPONSE
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
   

* Cheese or lettuce is countable if referring to different types or varieties. See Plural Varieties.