Many and Much (adjectives and pronouns)
(A) many and much
many (adjective) is used before countable nouns.
much (adjective) is used before uncountable nouns:
- He didn’t make many mistakes.
- We haven’t much coffee.
They have the same comparative and superlative forms more and most:
- more mistakes/coffee
- most men/damage
many, much, more, most can be used as pronouns:
He gets a lot of letters but she doesn’t get many.
You have a lot of free time but I haven’t much.
more and most can be used quite freely, and so can many and much, with negative verbs (see above examples).
But many and much with affirmative or interrogative verbs have restricted use.
(B) many and much with affirmative verbs
many are possible when preceded (i.e. modified) by a good/a great and both are possible when modified by so/as/too.
- I made a good many friends there.
- He has had so many jobs that…
- She read as much as she could.
- They drink too much (gin).
When not modified, many, an object or part of the object, is usually replaced by a lot/lots of (+ noun) or by a lot or lots (pronouns).
much, an object or part of the object is usually replaced by a great/good deal of (+ noun) or a great/good deal (pronouns):
- I saw a lot/lots of seabirds. I expect you saw a lot too.
- He spends a lot/lots of/a great deal of money on his house.
As subject or part of the subject, either many or a lot (of) etc. can be used, but much here is normally replaced by one of the other forms. much, however, is possible in formal English:
- Much will depend on what the minister: says.
Compare negative and affirmative sentences:
- He hasn’t won many races.
- You’ve won a lot/lots of races or You’ve won a lot of
- You’ve won a great many (races).
- He didn’t eat much fruit.
- She ate a lot/lots of fruit/a great deal of fruit or
- She ate a lot/a great deal.
(C) many and much with interrogative verbs
Both can be used with how:
- How many limes? How much?
In questions where how is not used, many are possible, but a lot (of) etc. is better when an affirmative answer is expected:
- Did you take a lot of photos? I expect you did.
much without how is possible but the other forms are a little more usual:
- Did you have a lot of snow/much snow last year?