A lot of, many, and much

lot 1 / l t / S1 W1 quantifier , pronoun informal 1 a lot also lots a) a large amount, quantity, or number : I ate a lot last night. "How many songs have you downloaded?" "Lots." a lot of something/lots of something A hundred dollars was a lot of money in 1901. You'll save lots of time doing it this way. a lot to do/see/eat etc. I still have a lot to learn. lots to do/see/eat etc. There's lots to see in the city. There were lots and lots (= very many ) of plants for sale. There's an awful lot (= a very large amount ) of cake left. A lot of times (= usually or very often ) we just sat around and talked. b) [ + comparative ] much : You'll get there a lot quicker if you drive. This is a lot more work than I thought it would be. c) very often : He gets drunk a lot with his friends. 2 have a lot on your mind to have a lot of problems that you are worried about : Don't bother him now. He's got a lot on his mind. 3 have a lot on your plate informal to have many problems to deal with or work to do : Can someone else do the report? I have a lot on my plate right now. 4 have a lot of explaining to do to be responsible for a bad situation, or thought to be responsible : Jacobs has a lot of explaining to do for the company's losses. see also a fat lot of good/use at FAT 1 ( 9 ) , have a lot/so much etc. going for you at GO FOR ( 6 ) , lot (LARGE AMOUNT) /lQt, lA:t/ noun a large amount or number (of something) We haven't got a lot, but we're happy. (humorous) 'There's a lot of it about' means that the stated thing is very common. A lot of means many or much. There were a lot of people at the meeting last night. A lot of rain fell in Scotland last night. They want to have a lot of children. He does a lot of travelling in his job. A lot also means very much or very often. Your sister looks a lot like you. We go on walking holidays a lot. I'm feeling a lot better today. You can complain if you like, but a fat lot of good it'll do you (= it will have no effect)! A lot also means many. Don't eat all those biscuits - there aren't a lot left. (informal) The lot is everything. The thieves stole paintings, jewellery, the lot. Have I got everything, is that the lot? I'll sell you the whole lot for only 50. lots plural noun, adverb Have a biscuit. There are lots (= many).

A lot of, many, and much

(informal) I'm feeling lots (= very much) better today. They want to have lots of (= many) children. There were lots of (= many) people at the meeting last night.

man y / m ni / S1 W1 quantifier , pronoun

1 a large number of people or things ; OPP few : Many animals do not eat meat. Does she have many friends? "Have another donut." "No thanks, I've eaten too many already (= more than I should ) ! We were behind by so many points I thought there was no chance of winning. There aren't many (= are not many ) tickets left. Many of these old baseball cards are worth a lot of money. Many of them do not speak any English. For many , these have been very difficult years. The many illustrations in the book are a delight. a good many/a great many/very many (= a large number ) see also LOT THESAURUS a large number : A large number of people attended the meeting. a lot/lots a large amount, quantity, or number of something : There are lots of books to choose from. He has a lot of money. plenty a large amount that is enough or more than enough : Make sure you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. 2 used for asking or talking about what number of people or things there are : How many (= what number of ) people are coming to the party? There weren't as many people at the meeting as we had hoped (= there weren't the number that we had hoped for ) . Print as many as (= the same number that ) you think you'll need. He made four free throws in as many attempts (= he tried four times and made it four times ) . twice as many/three times as many etc. The company now employs four times as many women as men. 3 have had one too many informal to be drunk : Ron looked like he'd had one too many. 4 many thanks used in letters or in a formal speech to thank someone for something : Many thanks for your letter. 5 the many formal used to mean a large group of people who all have a particular disadvantage, usually to compare it with a smaller group who do not ; OPP the few : We have to measure the needs of the many against the needs of the few. 6 many a time/many's the time spoken often : Many a time, we sat in that bar discussing the world. 7 many a something a large number of people or things : Many a young writer has made the same mistake. see also MORE , MUCH 2 , in so many words at WORD 1 ( 23 ) see Grammar box at MUCH 2

many /"men.i/ determiner, pronoun a large number (of); a lot (of) Many people would disagree with your ideas. Rachel was at the party with her many admirers. How many students are there in each class? Not many people have heard of him. There aren't very many weekends between now and Christmas. The demand for the new type of CD player has been so great that the shop hasn't many (of them) left. I've met him so many times and I still can't remember his name! I don't want to invite too many people because it's quite a small flat.

A lot of, many, and much

There are too many people chasing too few jobs. If there are only five of us going to the concert, then I've booked one too many seats (= one more than the necessary number). If there were as many women as there are men in parliament, the situation would be very different. As many as (= The surprisingly large number of) 6 000 people may have been infected with the disease. There are already twelve bottles of wine, so if I buy as many again (= another twelve bottles) we'll have enough. A good/great many (= A large number of the) people who voted for her in the last election will not be doing so this time. She'd had five children in as many (= in the same number of) years and decided it was enough. USAGE: 'Many' is used with countable nouns. Compare much. I've told you many a time (= many times) not to ride your bike on the pavement. (humorous) Many's the hour I've spent (= I have spent many hours) by the telephone just waiting in case he should call. (humorous) Many's the man who's (= Many men have) come out of her office trembling. If someone says something in so many words, they say it directly and clearly, using exactly the words described. I told him in so many words that I thought he'd failed completely. "Did he say he was unhappy with his job?" "Well, not in so many words, but that was the impression I got." It was her birthday so I wished her many happy returns (of the day) (= happy birthday). (informal) If you have had one too many, you have drunk too much alcohol. Many-sided means having many sides or a lot of different features or characteristics. a many-sided object A many-sided character, he wrote poetry and was a keen cricketer and cook. (saying) 'There's many a slip between/twixt cup and lip' means that you cannot be certain about what the result of something will be before it happens.

much 1 / m t / S1 W1 adverb
1 used especially before COMPARATIVE s and SUPERLATIVE s to say whether something is different, bigger, better etc. by a large amount : It was much easier writing the letter on the computer. Wayne looks much older now. These shoes are much more comfortable. Paul earns much more than I do. I feel so much better. He was driving much too fast. 2 used to say or ask whether something happens or is true to a great degree : Has the town changed much? I didn't much care for him. He loves you very much . He worries too much about what other people think. Thank you very much for all your help . I don't respect her as much as I used to. It's amazing how much the children have grown. We're looking forward to it so much . 3 [ usually in negatives and questions ] used to say or ask how often someone does something or how much time they spend doing it : She doesn't complain much. Do you travel much? She doesn't smile as much as she used to. He talks too much . We don't use the car very much . 4 much less used to say that one thing is even less true or less possible than another : I've never seen the report, much less read it.

A lot of, many, and much

5 (as) much as somebody does something used to mean that although one thing is true, something else is also true : Much as I would like to have been there, it just wasn't possible. 6 much to somebody's surprise/disgust etc. formal used to say that someone was very surprised, very DISGUSTED etc. : Much to my relief, she didn't see me. 7 not be much good/use to not be useful or skillful : I'm not much good at tennis. 8 much loved/praised/criticized etc. used to describe someone or something that is loved, praised, criticized etc. a lot or by many people : a much loved book 9 used to say that something is very similar to something else : We know pretty much what happened. We are in much the same situation. much like/as something The taste is much like butter. see also so much the better at SO 1 ( 12 ) , somebody/something is not so much...as... at SO 1 ( 15 ) , not think much of somebody/something at THINK ( 9 )
GRAMMAR

much, very, a lot, many Use much with adjectives that come from the past participle of verbs: Her work is much admired. Very is used in the same way with ordinary adjectives: The painting is very beautiful. In negative sentences and in questions, use much with uncountable nouns and use many with countable nouns: These plants aren't getting much sunlight. | How much money does it cost? | There weren't many cars on the road. In affirmative statements with countable nouns, use a lot : She knows a lot of people.

much 2 S1 W1 quantifier, pron.

1 [ usually in negatives and questions ] a lot of something : Was there much traffic? I didn't spend much money. There is still much work to be done. of The storm will bring rain to much of the state. 2 used to talk about how large an amount of something is, or what it costs : How much time do you think it will take? how much is something?/how much does something cost? How much is this jacket? I have too much work and not enough time. There's so much to learn. this/that/so much I didn't think the repairs would cost this much. Eat as much as you want. Some TV programs have far too much sex and violence in them. as much as 10%/$1,000 etc. Top lawyers earn as much as $3 million a year. 3 not/nothing much used to say that something is not important, interesting, serious etc. : "Anything happening?" "Not much." There was nothing much I could do to help. 4 be too much for somebody to be too difficult for someone to do : Climbing the stairs is too much for her. 5 think/say/suspect etc. as much used to say that someone thought or said the fact or idea that has just been mentioned : "Max was lying all the time." "I thought as much." 6 not be much of a something to not be a very good, big, serious etc. example of something : I'm not much of a dancer.

A lot of, many, and much

7 not be much to look at to be unattractive : Her husband's not much to look at. 8 be a bit much used to say that something is too extreme or uacceptable : The explosion at the end of the movie was a bit much. 9 that/as much again an additional amount that is equal to the amount that already exists : The car only cost $2,500 but the insurance cost as much again. 10 I'll say this/that much for somebody/something used to say something positive about someone who has been criticized : I'll say this much for him - he was consistent until the end. 11 make much of somebody/something formal to treat information, a situation etc. as though you think it is very important or serious : The press made much of the discovery. see also MANY , that's not saying much at SAY 1 ( 33 ) , not/without so much as something at SO 1 ( 9 ) , so much for somebody/something at SO 1 ( 23 )

much (AMOUNT) /mVtS/ determiner, pronoun, adverb more, most a large amount (of); to or by a large amount I don't earn much money, but I enjoy my job. You haven't said much, Joan - what do you think? I don't think there's much to be gained by catching an earlier train. The children never eat (very) much, but they seem quite healthy. "Is there any wine left?" "Not much." There's not/nothing much to do around here. How much (= What amount of) sugar do you take in your coffee? How much are these shoes?/How much do these shoes cost? He wants to buy a new car, but he doesn't want to spend too much on it. Mark isn't coming to the cinema because he's got too much work to do. "Is this piece of cake OK for you?" "No, it's a bit much (= a larger amount than I want). Can I have a smaller piece, please?" I don't have as much time as (= I have less time than) I would like for visiting my friends. I've said as much as I'm prepared to say (= I'm not willing to say anything more) at this point. Because of the rain, we weren't able to spend much of the day on the beach. Have you seen/heard much of Polly (= often seen or heard about her) recently? Joyce isn't much of a one for opera (= does not like it). I don't much like the sound of that cough/I don't like the sound of that cough much - you should see a doctor. It doesn't matter (very) much to me whether we go out or not. Thank you for the invitation to your party - we should very much like to come. We enjoyed the concert very/so much. Thank you very/so much for the lovely present. One day I hope I'll be able to do as much (= the same amount) for you as you've done for me. Things around here are much as always/usual/ever (= have not changed a lot). The two schools are much the same (= very similar). "How are you feeling today, Mrs White?" "Much the same (= in the same condition), doctor." Much to our surprise, (= We were very surprised that) they accepted our offer. I'm not much good at knitting (= do not do it very well). She doesn't go out much (= very often) since her husband died. Whether a person's intelligence is something they are born with or something they acquire is a much (= often) discussed question. Brian's become a much (= greatly) changed person since his car accident. "Are you feeling better now?" "Yes, thank you - much (= a lot) better." I've been feeling much healthier (= a lot more healthy) since I became a vegetarian. The repairs to our car cost much more than we were expecting. You'll be much more comfortable if you come and sit over here.

A lot of, many, and much

I'm very much aware of the problems. She's much the best person for the job (= She is certainly better than everyone else). She says she would much rather have her baby at home than in hospital. USAGE: 'Much' is used with uncountable nouns. Compare many. (informal) You can also use much at the end of a negative sentence to suggest the opposite of what you have just said. I can see you don't like cream cakes - much! I think you've drunk much too much (= a larger amount than is safe for you) to drive. If you say that you thought/expected/said as much, it means that something you thought/expected/said would happen has happened. "I'm afraid I haven't got the money to pay you back yet." "That doesn't surprise me - I expected as much." Go on, lend me the money - you know I'd do as much (= the same) for you. He as much as (= almost) admitted that it was his fault. My fare was nearly 10, and it was almost as much again (= the same amount) for the children. I felt so ill this morning, it was as much as I could do (= I was almost unable) to get out of bed. She is as much a friend to me as a mother (= although she is my mother, she is also a friend). Much as (= Although) I would like to help you, I'm afraid I'm simply too busy at the moment. Tony can barely boil an egg, much less (= and certainly not) cook dinner. I don't feel angry so much as sad (= I feel more sad than angry). They're not so much friends as lovers (= They're more lovers than friends). By the time you've paid so much (= a particular amount) for the ferry and so much for the train fare, it would be cheaper to go by plane. The car's broken down again. So much for (= Because of that, it's no longer possible to have) our trip to the seaside. If someone says that they will say this much or that much (for someone or something), they want to say something good or positive about someone or something considered to be bad or poor. I'll say this much for Kay, she always agrees to help whenever we ask her. That old car was reliable, I'll say that much. The party was too much/a bit much/a bit too much for the children (= they have not been able to deal with it successfully) - they're all exhausted. I think it's too much/a bit much/a bit too much (= unreasonable) for you to expect me to do all the cleaning. much (GOOD) pronoun, adverb (something) of good quality He's not much to look at, but he has a wonderful personality. I've never been much of a dancer (= good at dancing, or interested in doing it). There's not/nothing much on TV tonight.