Much, many, little, few, a lot of, plenty
•a fewand manyare used with plural and countable nouns:
I've got a few friends.
They haven't got many friends.
• a littleand muchare used with uncountable nouns:
Could I have a little water, please?
We haven't got much time.
A) plural countable: Positive
| a few some a lot of | I've got a few friends. I've got some friends. I've got a lot of friends. |
Negative and Question
| any many a lot of | I haven 't got any friends. I haven 't got many friends. I haven 't got a lot of friends. Have you got any/much/a lot of friends? |
NOTE that it is sometimes possible to use manyin the positive:
I've talked to them manytimes.
b) uncountable:
Positive
| a little some a lot of | I've got a little milk. I've got some milk. I've got a lot of milk. |
Negative and Question
| any much a lot of | I haven 't got any milk. I haven 't got much milk. I haven 't got a lot of milk. Have you got any/much/a lot of milk? |
Practice
1. Write few, little, much or many to complete these sentences. Do not use some, any or a lot of.
1. There is some food but not ... drink.
2. There's not... food in the cupboard.
3. She won't be a good teacher. She's got... patience.
4. I'm sorry, I haven't got... time.
5. The receptionist didn't give me ... information.
6. I've seen her ... times this year, but not very often.
7. We only have ... petrol left.
8. Not ... people come here in the winter.
9. Did they pay you ... money for working there?
10. There aren't... towns in this part of England.
11. I didn't drink ... wine at the party.
12. I didn't have ... opportunity to talk to him.
13. The journey was a short one: it didn't take ... time.
14. I don't think ... students will come tonight.
15. I haven't done ... work today.
16. I don't think I've made ... mistakes.
17. Did you take ... photographs when you were on holiday?
18. I'm not very busy today. I haven't got ... to do.
19. Most of the town is modern. There are ... old buildings.
20. The weather has been very dry recently. We've had ... rain.
2. Complete the sentences using much, many, or a lot of.
Models: There are a lot of apples.
He hasn't got much washing powder.
1. There ... oil.
2. The shop has ... bottles of water.
3. There ... frozen food.
4. There ... sweets.
5. The shopkeeper has got ... cheese.
6. I can see ... newspapers.
7. But I can't see .. bread.
8. There ... yogurt.
9. He hasn't got ... birthday cards to choose from.
10. But there ... grapes.
11. Why ... there ... magazines?
12. But there ... rice!
3. In some of these sentences much is incorrect or unnatural. Change much to many or a lot of where necessary. Put RIGHT if the sentence is correct.
1. We didn't spend much money. RIGHT.
2. Sue drinks much tea. A lot of tea.
3. Jim always puts much salt on his food. ...
4. We'll have to hurry. We haven't got much time.
5. Did it cost much to repair the car? ...
6. It cost much to repair the car. ...
7. I don't know much people in this town. ...
8. I use the phone much at work. ...
9. They've got so much money; they don't know what to do with it. ...
4. Complete the sentences using plenty (of) + one of the following: hotels money room time to learn things to see
1. There's no need to hurry. We've got plenty of time.
2. He's got no financial problems. He's got ....
3. Come and sit with us. There's ....
4. She knows a lot but she still has ....
5. It's an interesting town to visit. There ....
6. I'm sure we'll find somewhere to stay. ...
5. Put in a few, a little.
1. ... people arrived before the party started but not many.
2. I can lend you ... money until tomorrow.
3. I asked him to put ... milk in my coffee.
4. She started feeling ill only ... days before the exam.
5. There are only ... people at the beach.
6. The bank only lent me ... money.
7. Can I ask you ... a questions?
8. Only ... students have failed the exam.
9. I gave the cat... milk.
10. The museum was very crowded. There were too ... people.
6. Put inlittle/a little/few/a few.
1. Listen carefully. I'm going to give you ... advice.
2. Do you mind if I ask you ... questions?
3. This town is not a very interesting place to visit, so ... tourists come here.
4. I don't think Jill would be a good teacher. She's got ... patience.
5. "Would you like milk in your coffee?" - "Yes, please.
...
6. This is a very boring place to live. There's ... to do.
7. "Have you ever been to Paris?" — "Yes, I've been there ... times".
| all some any most much/many little few |
You can use the words in the box (and also no) with a noun (some food, few books).
All cars have wheels.
Some cars can go faster then others.
Many people drive too fast.
You cannot say "all of cars"; "most of people".
You can use the words in the box (also none, half, all, a few) with of.
You can say some of (the people), most of (my friends), none of (this money), all of (the flowers), some of (it), none of (them).
We can use some of, most of, etc. + the/this/that/ these/those/ my/his/, etc.
You can use all of, some of, none of, etc. + it/us/you/them.
So, we say:
Some of the people, some of those people (but - not some of people). Most of my friends, most of Ann's friends (but - not most of friends).
Practice
8. Put in of where necessary. Leave an empty space (-) if the sentence is already complete.
9.
1. All - cars have wheels.
2. None ... this money is mine.
3. Some ... people get angry very easily.
4. Some ... people I met at the party were very interesting.
5. I have lived in London most... my life.
6. Many ... people watch too much TV.
7. Are any ... letters for me?
8. Most... days I get up at 11 o'clock.
9. Jim thinks that all ... museums are boring.
2. Choose from the list and complete the sentences. Use of
(some of/most of etc.) where necessary: