Adults|Grammar|Intermediate|42. Much/many/few/little

Read the rules

Much is unusual in positive sentences (especially in spoken English). Compare:

1. We didn’t spend much money.

but We spent a lot of money. (not We spent much money)

2. Do you see David much?

but I see David a lot. (not I see David much)

We use many and a lot of in all kinds of sentences:

1. Many people drive too fast. or A lot of people drive too fast.

2. Do you know many people? or Do you know a lot of people?

3. There aren’t many tourists here. or There aren’t a lot of tourists here.

Note that we say many years / many weeks / many days (not a lot of …):

• We’ve lived here for many years. (not a lot of years)

Read the rules

Little and few (without a) are negative ideas (= not much / not many):

1. Gary is very busy with his job. He has little time for other things. (= not much time, less time than he would like)

2. Vicky doesn’t like living in London. She has few friends there. (= not many, not as many as she would like)

You can say very little and very few:

1. Gary has very little time for other things.

2. Vicky has very few friends in London.

Read the rules

A little and a few have a more positive meaning.

A little = some, a small amount:

1. Let’s go and have a coffee. We have a little time before the train leaves.

(a little time = some time, enough time to have a coffee)

2. «Do you speak English?» «A little.» (so we can talk a bit)

A few = some, a small number:

1. I enjoy my life here. I have a few friends and we meet quite often.

(a few friends = not many but enough to have a good time)

2. «When was the last time you saw Clare?» «A few days ago.» (= some days ago)

Compare:

1.

a) He spoke little English, so it was difficult to communicate with him.

b) He spoke a little English, so we were able to communicate with him.

2.

a) She’s lucky. She has few problems. (= not many problems)

b) Things are not going so well for her. She has a few problems. (= some problems)

You can say only a little and only a few:

1. Hurry! We only have a little time. (not only little time)

2. The village was very small. There were only a few houses. (not only few houses)

Read the rules

You can use the words in the box with a noun (some food / few books etc.):

1. All cars have wheels.

2. Some cars can go faster than others.

3. (on a notice) No cars. (= no cars allowed)

4. Many people drive too fast.

5. I don’t go out very often. I’m at home most days.

You cannot say «all of cars», «some of people» etc.

• Some people learn languages more easily than others. (not Some of people)

Note that we say most (not the most):

• Most tourists don’t visit this part of the town. (not The most tourists)

Read the rules

You can use the words in the box with of (some of / most of etc.).

We use some of / most of / none of etc. + the/this/that/these/those/my … etc. So you can say «some of the people«, «some of those people» (but not «some of people»):

1. Some of the people I work with are not very friendly.

2. None of this money is mine.

3. Have you read any of these books?

4. I was sick yesterday. I spent most of the day in bed.

You don’t need of after all or half. So you can say:

1. All my friends live in Los Angeles. or All of my friends …

2. Half this money is mine. or Half of this money …

Compare:

1.

a) All flowers are beautiful. (= all flowers in general)

b) All (of) the flowers in this garden are beautiful. (= a specific group of flowers)

2.

a) Most problems have a solution. (= most problems in general)

b) We were able to solve most of the problems we had. (= a specific group of problems)

Read the rules

You can use all of / some of / none of etc. + it/us/you/them:

1. «How many of these people do you know?» «None of them. / A few of them.»

2. Do any of you want to come to a party tonight?

3. «Do you like this music?» «Some of it. Not all of it.»

We say: all of us / all of you / half of it / half of them etc. You cannot leave out of before it/us/you/them:

1. All of us were late. (not all us)

2. I haven’t finished the book yet. I’ve only read half of it. (not half it)

You can also use some/most etc. alone, without a noun:

1. Some cars have four doors and some have two.

2. A few of the shops were open, but most (of them) were closed.

3. Half this money is mine, and half (of it) is yours. (not the half)

In some of these sentences much is incorrect or unnatural. Change much to many or a lot (of) where necessary deleting brackets ( ).

Complete the sentences using plenty (of) + the following:

Put in much/many/few/little

Put in a where necessary

Put in little / a little / few / a few

Put in of where necessary. Leave the space empty if the sentence is already complete.

Choose from the list and complete the sentences. Use of (some of / most of etc.) where necessary.

Use your own ideas to complete these sentences

Complete the sentences. Use: all of / some of / none of + it/them/us (all of it / some of them etc.).

If you open the lesson plan you will be able to assign separate pages as homework or all the homework pages at once.