HOW MUCH, HOW MANY, HOW OFTEN, HOW LONG, HOW FAR
- When we want to ask a question about quantity, we use how many, how much – how much. How many is used for countable nouns, while How much – is used for uncountable nouns.
How many friends have you got? – How many friends do you have?
How many sweets do you want? – How many sweets do you want?
How much money do you get? – How much money do you get?
How much do you weigh? – How much do you weigh?
- How often – How often, is used when we want to understand at what time interval a given action is performed.
How often do you watch TV? – How often do you watch TV?
How often does the bus run? – How often does the bus come?
- How long – How long, is used when we ask how long an action has been performed.
How long do you live here? – How long have you lived here?
How long have you been playing the piano? – How long have you been playing the piano?
- How far – How far, is used to understand at what distance one object is from another.
How far is the post office from the centre? – How far is the post office from the city centre?
How far is your house? – How far away is your house?
MANY, MUCH, A LOT OF (LOTS OF), PLENTY OF, A GREAT DEAL OF, A LARGE AMOUNT OF, A LARGE NUMBER OF, A GREAT MANY, THE MAJORITY OF, MOST (OF)
All these words and expressions are translated into English as 'many' or 'much', but they are used in different ways and in different situations.
- A lot of (lots of), plenty of are used in positive statements, with both countable and uncountable nouns, as well as before pronouns.
She eats a lot of chocolate. – She eats a lot of chocolate.
There's plenty of time till the end of the film. – There's plenty of time until the end of the film.
Lots of shops work on Sunday. – Many shops are open on Sunday.
I see quite a lot of him this year. – I see him quite often this year.
- Many is used with countable nouns in the plural, mainly in negative and interrogative sentences.
There aren't many girls in my class. – There aren't many girls in my class.
Are there many mistakes in the dictation? – Are there many mistakes in the dictation?
- Much is used with uncountable nouns, mainly in negative and interrogative sentences. It can be used in combination with very.
I haven't got much work today. – I don't have much work today.
Have you got much money in you? – Do you have much money on you?
Thank you very much for the help. – Thank you very much for the help.
- A great deal of, a large amount of, a large number of, a great many are considered more formal forms of 'a lot of' (lots of), 'plenty of'. They are translated as many, a large quantity.
A great deal of, a large amount of are used mainly with uncountable nouns and require a verb in the singular.
I have spent a great deal of trouble over this work. – I have put a lot of effort into this work.
A large amount of money is stolen. – A large amount of money has been stolen.
A large number of, a great many – are used mainly with countable nouns and require a verb in the plural.
A large number of books are missing from the library. – A large number of books are missing from the library.
I used to have a great many friends. – I used to have many friends.
- The majority of, most (of) are used with countable nouns and require a verb in the plural. They are translated as most.
The majority of the students are in favour of the proposal. – Most students support the proposal.
Most people do not know what to do in such cases. – Most people don't know what to do in such cases.
Most of the questions were about the unemployment. – Most of the questions were about unemployment.
FEW, A FEW, LITTLE, A LITTLE, A BIT (OF)
- A few, a little – mean a small, but completely sufficient quantity, and are translated as a few, a little. A few is used with countable nouns, while A little – is used with uncountable nouns.
He has got a few friends in this town. – He has a few friends in this town.
There is a little coffee in the tin. – There is a little coffee in the tin.
- Few, little mean a very small quantity, which is not at all sufficient, and are translated as little, almost none. Few is used with countable nouns, while Little – is used with uncountable nouns. They can be used in combination with very.
He has got few friends in this town. – He has few friends in this town.
There is little coffee in the tin. – There is little coffee in the tin.
Very few students passed the exam. – Very few students passed the exam.
I know very little about cars. – I know very little about cars.
- A bit (of) means a small quantity and is used with uncountable nouns.
A bit of cheese – a bit of cheese
A bit of peace – a bit of peace
A bit of time – a bit of time
It is possible to use it independently as well.
Wait a bit! – Wait a bit!