The monkey has far too many bananas to eat.
Much / More
Increasing the amount of something
More + Noun
| MORE + NONCOUNT NOUN | MORE + COUNT NOUN |
|---|---|
Use more before a noncount noun for emphasis on a comparative amount. |
Use more before a count noun for emphasis on a comparative number. |
People have more knowledge about eating healthier food. |
More people are eating healthier food. |
Consuming more red wine may hold the secret to youth. |
People want to consume more anti-oxidants. |
More fiber helps digestion. |
Eating more vegetables adds fiber to one's diet. |
More potassium helps regulate blood pressure. |
Eating more bananas adds potassium and vitamin C to your diet. |
Much More / Many More + Noun
| MUCH MORE + NONCOUNT NOUN | MANY MORE + COUNT NOUN |
|---|---|
Use much more before a noncount noun for emphasis on a greater amount. |
Use many more before a count noun for emphasis on a greater number. |
People have much more knowledge about eating right. |
Many more people are eating healthier diets. |
People eat much more food than they should. |
People take in many more calories than they need. |
How much more fiber does a banana have? |
How many more bananas can the monkey eat? |
Too Much / Too Many + Noun
| TOO MUCH + NONCOUNT NOUN | TOO MANY + COUNT NOUN |
|---|---|
Use too much for an unacceptable, excessive amount. Use too (adv) to modify much, a quantifier to a noncount noun. |
Use too many for an unacceptable, excessive amount. Use too (adv) to modify many, a quantifier to a count noun. |
People eat too much fat, sugar and salt. |
People eat too many chips, cookies and candy bars. |
Prepared food includes too much packaging. (plastic, boxes, padding) |
Vending machines sell too many high-calorie snacks. |
The cook put much too much salt in the soup. (much too much is informal) |
The cook put far too many beans in the soup. (far too many is informal) |
I have a little too much sugar in the tomato sauce. |
I have a few too many cloves of garlic in the tomato sauce. |
Note: too (adverb) modifies much (a quantifier or determiner).
Also see: Too / Enough
Much / More + Adj
Increasing the Quality
Much -ER / Much More + Adjective
| MUCH MORE + ADJECTIVE -ER | MUCH MORE +ADJECTIVE |
|---|---|
Use much (adv.) to emphasize a comparative adjective, -er. (also: far, rather, a little, a bit, a lot) |
Use much (adv.) to emphasize a comparative adjective, more. (also: far, rather, a little, a bit, a lot) |
This apple is much better than that one. (good - better) |
This apple is much more beautiful than that one. |
This apple is much redder than the other one. (red) |
This apple is far more flavorful than the other one. |
This apple is a bit heavier than that one. (heavy) |
This apple is a bit more exceptional than that one. |
This apple is far uglier than that one. (ugly) |
This apple is a lot more desirable than that one. |
Note: much (adverb) modifies more (adverb) which modifies beautiful (adjective).
Also see: Comparisons
Much / Far / A Bit / Rather — Too
| TOO + ADJ | MUCH TOO / FAR TOO + ADJ |
|---|---|
Use too to modify an adjective creating the meaning of an unacceptable, excessive degree. (also: far, rather, a little, a bit) |
Use much to modify too before an adjective creating a meaning of greater, excessive degree. (also: far, rather, a little, a bit) |
He is too old for her. |
He is much too old for her. |
She is too young for him. |
She is far too young for him. (also: a bit too young) |
Elena is too tall. |
Elena is much too tall. (also: a bit too tall) |
You are too kind (a compliment with emphasis) |
You are much too kind to me. (also: far too kind) |
Jason is too confident. (He'll be disappointed.) |
Jason is a little too confident that he'll win. (also: a bit too confident) |
It is too soon to know if the marriage will last. |
It is a bit too soon to know if the marriage will last. (also: far too soon) |
I have to work late too often . |
I have to work late rather too often (also: far too often) |
He's too smart to allow another player to score a goal. |
He's way too smart to give that point away. (way – informal speech) |
Note: much (adverb) modifies too (adverb).
Common Mistakes
| ERROR | FIX |
|---|---|
I want much.
|
I want more in life. The concept "more" is an ideal (undefined, noncount) |
She is too much tall.
Expression: "She is too much." She has an unusual or overpowering personality.
|
She is much too tall. I have too much olive oil. |
Practice 1
Improvements in Phones
- Select the word that best completes the sentence.
- Double click on the radio button to check your answer.
- Check your answer: an asterisk * indicates an incorrect answer.