What is the difference between a lot of and lots of in English?

Here you can find out what the difference is between the English phrases a lot of and lots of.

The main function of the phrases a lot of and lots of is to indicate a large number of someone or something. These phrases can be used with both countables and uncountable nouns. Both of them are translated as "many, large number".

Despite external differences, big difference in meaning there is no between them. Let's look at an example:

He's bought a lot of f lowers for her. = He’s bought lots of flowers for her. - He bought a lot of flowers for her.

It is believed that a lot of sounds a little more formal than lots of. The phrase lots of is better suited for informal settings. Although the difference is actually very small.

Some students wonder if it is possible to use a lot of and lots of in questions and negatives. Answer: of course, you can, but still a lot of and lots of It’s more common to see it in affirmative sentences. In questions and negatives, the words much/many are more often used.

This is a convention confirmed by some grammatical sources, but there will be no error if you use a lot of and lots of in all types of sentences, especially the construction of lots of. It is more common in colloquial speech and goes better with uncountable nouns.
Let's look at a few more examples:

I don’t have lots of patience to deal with her, do you? “I don’t have that much patience to mess with her, do you?”
Billy gave her lots of money to buy some new clothes. - Billy gave her a lot of money so she could buy new clothes.
Have you eaten lots of fruit? -Have you eaten a lot of fruit?
They didn't have a lot of choices indeed. - They really had little choice.

The form a lot can be used independently to mean "very, quite often". For example:
I attend the gym a lot. - I go to the gym quite often.
Do you like daffodils? A lot. - Do you like daffodils? Yes very.

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How not to get confused when using much and many? Just pay attention to the rules of use, because it was no coincidence that the British came up with two words with the same meaning. They are not interchangeable: in some cases you will only need much, and in others - only many. Here it all depends on the word itself to which it will refer much or many. Let's figure out what's what!

Much and many. Rules of use

As you know, nouns are divided into countable (can be counted) and uncountable (cannot be counted), and it is on this that they depend rules for using much and many. We must remember once and for all that many is “friendly” only with countable nouns, and much- with uncountables.

Examples:

many children – many children

much water - a lot of water

But that's not all about much And many. The rules for using these words indicate that they are best avoided in positive sentences. That is much And many in English should be used in negatives and questions. There are exceptions when these words are part of the subject.

Examples:

Do you have many friends here? – Do you have many friends here? ( many + countable noun).

I don't like much sugar in my tea. – I don’t like a lot of sugar in tea ( much + uncountable noun).

Many people speak English. – Many people speak English ( many is part of the subject– many people).

Rules for using many much a lot of

If you can’t do without “a lot” in your positive sentence, then pay attention to rules for using many\much\a lot of. It is believed that it is well suited for approval a lot of. By the way, you can use it in absolutely any context. Even if you suddenly doubt what is suitable for this proposal, a lot of will always help out, since it can be used for both countable and uncountable nouns.

Examples:

There are a lot of people in this room. – There are a lot of people in this room ( a lot of + countable noun).

I have a lot of work today. - I have a lot of work today ( a lot of + uncountable noun).

Do I have a lot of mistakes in the test? – Do I have a lot of mistakes in my test? ( interrogative sentence).

They don't have a lot of information. – They don’t have much information ( negative sentence).

Rules for using many\much\a lot of These apply specifically to nouns; you cannot use these words with verbs. But what to do when it is important to “strengthen” the meaning of an action? Suitable here a lot(without pretext of).

Examples:

We see our parents a lot. – We see our parents a lot (meaning “we see each other often”)

Do you practice this language a lot? – Do you practice this language a lot?

Using how much how many

Concerning uses how much how many, then here, too, everything depends on the noun that will follow this or that interrogative phrase. How much must be combined with uncountable nouns, and how many- with countable ones.

What is the difference between the expressions a lot, a lot of And lots of (a lot of, a bunch of) and when should you use them?

• Answer

So, Manuel, a learner of English from Spain, wants to know the difference between a lot of, lots of and quite simply, a lot. The first point to make here is that English can be more or less formal and lots of is just a more conversational form of a lot of. So you could say or write:

Well, Manuel, a Spaniard, is learning English and wants to know the difference between a lot of, lots of and, quite simply, a lot. The first thing to note here is that English can be more or less formal, and lots of is simply a colloquial form of expression a lot of. So, you can say or write:

There are a lot of people over there.

There a lot of of people.

Or you could say:

Or you can say:

There are lots of people over there.

There a lot of of people.

The last one "s chattier - it"s less formal. And that"s an easy way to remember it, I think.

The last example is more conversational - it is less formal. And that way I think it's easy to remember.

Grammatically speaking, a lot of or lots of is used before a noun,

If we talk about grammar, then a lot of or lots of used before a noun

There are a lot of people

Here a lot of of people

or what we call a "noun phrase" - a group of words that serves as a noun. Now, can you spot the noun phrase in this sentence?

or before a so-called “compound noun” - a group of words that acts as a noun. Can you identify the compound noun in this sentence?

There are a lot of Spanish people living in London.

There are many Spaniards living in London.

And the noun phrase is, : There are a lot of Spanish people living in London.

The compound noun here is – Spanish people living in London: Lives in London a bunch of Spaniards.

A lot, or for that matter, lots without of, is used in answers. If the question is, "Are there many Spanish people living in London?" the answer will be:

A lot or simply lots without of, used in replies. If the question is: “Are there many Spaniards living in London?”, the answer would be:

Yes, a lot.

Yes, a lot of.

Or if you want to sound chattier, more conversational:

Or, if you want to say it more casually, more colloquially:

Yes, lots.

Yes, a lot of.

Things do, however, get a bit more complicated in the question and the negative. If a noun is countable, in a negative or question, we normally use many instead of a lot.

However, with questions and denials the situation is more complicated. If the noun is countable, in negation or question we usually use many instead of a lot.

Are there many British tourists in Spain?

Are there many British tourists in Spain?

There aren't many Spanish tourists in Outer Mongolia.

There are few Spanish tourists in Outer Mongolia.

But if a noun is uncountable - that"s a mass noun like food or money or love- we use much.

But if the noun is uncountable - that is, denoting some mass, substance, like food, or money, or Love- we use much.

I haven't got much money.

I don't have much money.

Is there much food in the fridge?

Is there a lot of food in the refrigerator?

To finish then, another quick test. Which of these three sentences is grammatically okay?

To sum it up, another quick test. Which of these three sentences is grammatically correct?

a) I haven't got much money, but I've got much love.
b) I "ve got much money but I haven"t got much love.
c) I haven't got much money but I've got a lot of love.

And the answer is c) I haven't got much money but I've got a lot of love. So if you got that, well done!

And the answer is c) I have little money, but a lot of love ( denial, much/affirmation, a lot of) . So if you get it, great!

To indicate a large number of someone or something (that is, to say “a lot”), in English we use quantitative much, many, a lot of and few. All these pronouns have a meaning and a direct translation into Russian is “many”. Beginners, and sometimes even those who continue to learn English, may have difficulties with how these pronouns differ from each other and how to choose the right one. In this article we will analyze in detail many many a lot of rules.

Rules for using much, many, a lot of (affirmative sentences)

The rules for using much and many (and lot of) are your own. All of them are translated into Russian, nothing less than “many”, but in English there is a big difference between them. As a rule, the first thing you need to do is find out whether a countable or uncountable noun will be paired with much and many or a lot of - here lies the main difference in the use of quantitative nouns.

Much

The pronoun much should only be used with uncountable nouns - liquids, solids, gases, etc. That is, the sentences will contain the constructions “much milk” (a lot of milk), “much water” (a lot of water), “much oxygen” (a lot of oxygen), but you will not find “many rice” (a lot of rice) or “many” anywhere juice" (a lot of falcon).

You added too much milk-You added too much milk.
I don't like much pepper in my food— I don’t like a lot of pepper in my food.

Many

The pronoun many is used only in pairs with countable nouns - with everything that can be counted. “many apples” (many apples), “many pens” (many pens), “many penguins” (many penguins) - correct usage quantitative pronoun many.

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Many years ago there lived a woman in Paris whose name was Georgette“Many years ago, there lived a woman named Georgette in Paris.
I have many rules- I have a lot of rules.

A lot of

A lot of is the most universal pronoun. It can also be used. That is, in a sentence “a lot of” successfully replaces both “much” and “many”, but most often it is used to emphasize quantity. Many tomatoes means that we have a lot of tomatoes, but a lot of tomatoes rather means that we really have a LOT of tomatoes. In addition, a lot (without the preposition of) can be used to enhance the meaning of an action.

I have a lot of food- I have a lot of food. Mary has a lot of burgers— Mary has a lot of hamburgers. You can dance a lot-You can dance a lot.

Negative sentences

According to the rules for using much and many, the pronouns much and many are most often used in negative sentences. Negations with uncountable nouns have the form not much, and negations with countable nouns with not many.

Not many students like History lessons— Few students like history lessons.
Not many of us have elephants“Not many of us have elephants.” (Few of us have elephants.)

He does not eat much rice— He eats some meat.
Not much weight gain during pregnancy- Slight weight gain during pregnancy.

Interrogative sentences

The rules for using many and much say that in interrogative sentences The pronouns most often used are much and many. Questions with uncountable nouns begin with how much, and questions with countable nouns with how many.

How many roses are there in Kate’s hands?— How many roses does Kate have in her hands?
How many crocodiles do you have?- How many crocodiles do you have?
How many states are there in the USA?— How many states are there in the USA?
How much pepper do you take in your fried eggs?— How much pepper do you put in your scrambled eggs?
How much money does she need for her trip around the world?— How much money does she need for a trip around the world?
How much sugar do you have? - How much sugar do you have?
How much does it cost? - How much does it cost?

Features and exceptions

There is one feature in the rules for using many and much that needs to be mentioned. When the pronouns much and many are followed by the particle of, it will mean “more than half.” This construction is translated into Russian as “most of something...”, “many of...”.

Many of her clients live in the village— Many of her clients live outside the city.
Much of the meat is stink— Much of the meat stinks.

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1. Much used with uncountable nouns (in singular), A many– with plural countables:

I haven't got much time.
I don't know many of your friends.

□ Sometimes much can be used before singular countable nouns:

There's not much point in going on.

□ Many can be used after other determiners (the, my, its, his, her, etc.):

Among the many unknowns after the earthquake is the extent of damage to the foundations of buildings.
The gallery is exhibiting some of his many famous paintings ships of.

2. Much And many can be used as pronouns (if the meaning is clear):

You haven't eaten much.
Did you find any mushrooms? - Not many.

As a rule, this sounds quite formal:

There is no guarantee of a full recovery. Much depends on how well she responds to treatment.
The government's policies have done much to reduce unemployment.
Many (= many people) have discussed that she is the finest poet of our generation.
Not once did I see a tiger in the jungle, although I heard many.

Used before other determiners (the, my, this, etc.) or pronouns much/many of:

You can't see much of a country in a week.
How much of the house do you want to paint this year?
I won't pass the exam: I've missed too many of my lessons.
How many of you are there?

There"s not much meat left. (not ‘ There's not much of meat left’.)
Many shops are open on Sunday mornings. (Not ' many shops’)

Of after much/many usually not used unless there is another determiner (article or personal):

She didn't eat much breakfast. (not ‘ ... much of breakfast’.)
There aren't many large glasses left. (not ‘ ...many of large glasses left’.)

But much of used before names and geographical names:

I've seen too much of Haward recently.
Not much of Denmark is hilly.

□ Sometimes the following usage is possible:

He"s not much of a success/gentleman.

3. In colloquial speech much And many, as a rule, are used only in interrogative and negative sentences. In affirmative sentences they sound very formal (especially much) and instead of them other words and phrases of equal meaning are used:

He's got lots of men friends, but he doesn't know many women. (More natural than ‘ He's got many men friends...’)
Did you buy any clothes? .- Yes, lots. (Not ' Yes, many’)
How much money have you got? - I've got plenty. (Not ' I've got much’.)

a) a lot of And lots of

These expressions are used mainly in colloquial speech and can be used with uncountable nouns and plural countable nouns (the verb agrees in number with the noun, not with a lot of/lots of):

A lot of time is needed to learn a language.
Lots of patience is needed, too. (Not ' Lots of patience are needed, too’.)
A lot of my friends want to emigrate. (Not ' A lot of my friends wants...’)
Lots of us think it"s time for an election.

There"s not a lot of meat left. (not ‘ There's not a lot of meat left’.)

b) plenty of means "enough" or "more than enough":

Don't rush. There's plenty of time.
Plenty of shops take checks.
There's no need to worry. We've got plenty of money.
Have some more coffee. - No, thank you. I"ve had plenty.

We took lots of food and drink on our walk through the hills/ ...plenty of...
Jim doesn't look well. He's lost a lot of weight (not " plenty of")
Plenty of shops open on Sunday mornings. (Not ' Plenty shops’)

4. In a more formal style they are used

a) much And many:

We have much (work) to do/many obstacles to overcome before we can claim that real progress has been achieved.
Much has been written about unemployment.
In the opinion of many economists, ...
Much debate has been heard about Thornton's new book.
There could be many explanations for this.
Much of her fiction describes women in unhappy marriages.

b) a great/good deal of, a large/considerable/substantial amount of And a large/considerable/great/substantial number of

These expressions sound somewhat more formal than a lot of And lots of:

A great/good deal of And a large amount of used with uncountable nouns:

Mr. Lucas has spent a great deal of time in the Far East.
A good deal of the exhibition was devoted to her recent work.
I"ve thrown out a large amount of old clothing.
A large amount of the food was inedible/ Much of...

A large number of used with plural nouns:

A large number of problems still have to be solved. (more natural than
‘A large amount of problems ...’ / ‘A great deal of problems ...’)
The book contains a large number of pictures, many in colour/ ...many...

c) turnover many a with a singular noun:

The manager must have spent many a sleepless night worrying about his team selection.
Many a pupil at the school will be pleased that Latin is no longer compulsory.

d) rpm a good/great many:

She has a good/great many friends in New Zealand.

e) rpm far too many / far too much(meaning "too much")

Far too many students failed the end-of-year math exam.
Far too much time is wasted filling in forms.

□ Expressions with of usually not used before words such as pounds, or miles:

It cost several pounds. (Not ' It cost a lot of pounds’.)
They lived many miles from the town. (Not ' They lived plenty of miles from
the town’.)

□ Usually many(but not a lot of/lots) are used with words denoting time (days, minutes, months, weeks, years) and with numbers + of(for example: thousands of voters, millions of pounds):

We used to spend many hours driving to Melbourne and back.
He was the founder of a company now worth many millions of pounds.

□ Expressions with of can be used as pronouns if the meaning is clear:

How much did it cost? - A lot. (= A lot of money.)
We should be all right for cheese - I"ve bought plenty.
He does not often speak, but when he does he says a great deal.

□ A lot And a great deal can be used as adverbs:

On holiday we walk and swim a lot.
The government seems to change its mind a great deal.

□ Expressions so much/many, as much/many And too much/many sound quite natural in colloquial speech in affirmative sentences:

There was so much traffic that it took me an hour to get home.
I play as much tennis as I can.
You make too many mistakes.
She won't drink this coffee. There's too much sugar in it.
There was so much sugar in the coffee that she could"t drink it.

□ Much used as an adverb in questions and negative sentences:

Do you work much at weekends? I don't travel much these days.
She"s much older than her brother.
I don't drive much faster than you.

□ Much in a formal style it can be used before some verbs (expressing satisfaction and preference) in affirmative sentences:

I really appreciate your help.
We much prefer the country to the town.
I didn't enjoy the concert much.

Very much used as an adverb (usually not placed before a noun):

I very much like your new hairstyle.
Thank you very much.
There's a whole lot of water coming under the door. (before noun) (not ‘ There's very much water coming...’)

Much And many have degrees of comparison (and the same):

George did more work/exercises than anyone else.
So he did the most work/ exercises

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MORE

1. More used as a comparative degree much And many:

We need more time (not ‘ ...more of time’.)
More university students are having to borrow money these days.

2. If the meaning is clear, more

I"d like some more, please.

more of:

Three more of the missing climbers have been found.
Could I have some more of that smoked fish?
I don't think any more of them want to come.

AND more of

It would be nice to see more of Ray and Barbara.
Five hundred years ago, much more of Britain was covered with trees.

3. RPM is consumed one more/ two more... and so on..

There's just one more river to cross.

4. More used (according to the appropriate rules) to form the comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs):

As you get older you get more tolerant.
Please drive more slowly.

5. More can be used as an adverb:

I couldn't agree more.
I hate this job more and more as the years go by.

1.81
MOST

1. The most used as a superlative much And many:

Susan found the most blackberries (more than others).
The most work is often done by the quietest worker.

In colloquial speech the sometimes omitted:

Who earns (the) most money in your family?

2. Most(in this sense without the article) means “most”:

Most children like ice cream. (Not ' The most children...’)
Most cheese is made from cow's milk.
Most Swiss people understand French. (Not ' Most of Swiss people...’)
Most people want a peaceful life.

Most of used before names and geographical names:

In this meaning most no longer a superlative much/many, but in fact an independent determinant.

□ The majority of(=most / most of) is usually used with the plural:

The majority of criminals are non-violent.

3. If the meaning is clear, most can be used as a pronoun:

Some people had difficulty with the lecture, but most understood.

Before other determiners (a, the, my, this, etc.) and pronouns it is used most of:

Most of the people here know each other.
Most of my friends live abroad. (Not ' most of my friends...’)
Most of us thought he was wrong.
He's eaten two pizzas and most of a cold chicken.

4. (The) most used (according to the appropriate rules) to form the superlative degree of adjectives and adverbs:

I wasn't as clever as the others, but I was the most beautiful.
I work most efficiently in the early morning.

5. (The) most can be used as an adverb (the article is often omitted in colloquial speech):

They all talk a lot, but your little girl talks (the) most.
The truth hurts most.

As an adverb most can mean "very" in a formal style:

That is most kind of you.
Thank you for a most interesting afternoon.
The experience was most distressing.

□ Mostly means "in most but not all cases"

Your little girl talks the most. (Not ' ...talks mostly’.)
She talks mostly about her friends.