Much, many, a lot of

  • A2 · Elementary
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min
  • much and many

Countable and uncountable nouns with much, many and a lot of: How many chairs do we need? How much ice? We don't have much money. From two coworkers planning a goodbye party for thirty people to a quiz with How much…? and How many…? about amazing numbers.

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muchmanya lot of

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2In this lesson
  3. 3Reading: the party listReading comprehension
  4. 4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  5. 5Find How much and How manyGrammar exercise
  6. 6much, many and a lot ofGrammar rule
  7. 7How many…? or How much…?Grammar exercise
  8. 8Packing for the weekendGrammar exercise
  9. 9Which word?Grammar exercise
  10. 10Find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  11. 11Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  12. 12Number quizSpeaking practice
  13. 13About youGrammar exercise
  14. 14Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: which word?Grammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: after the partyGrammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  4. 4Homework: a friend comes to stayDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. When was the last party at your work or school? What was there to eat?
  2. How many people usually come to your birthday party?
  3. Do you like planning parties? Why, or why not?

Grammar rule

much, many and a lot of

Countable or uncountable?

Countable nouns have a plural: one plate, two plates. Uncountable nouns have no plural and no a or an: milk, money, rice.

Countable (plates)Uncountable (milk)
QuestionHow many plates do we need?How much milk do we need?
NegativeWe don't have many plates.We don't have much milk.
PositiveWe have a lot of plates.We have a lot of milk.
  • a lot of (or lots of) goes with both kinds of nouns, in every kind of sentence: Is there a lot of snow in your town?
  • In positive sentences, use a lot of: I drink a lot of tea. (not I drink much tea) many is possible in positive sentences, but a lot of is more usual in conversation.
  • people and children are plurals without -s: How many people…?
  • An uncountable noun takes a singular verb: The coffee is cold. The rice was great.
  • news ends in -s, but it is uncountable: The news is on at six.
  • How much…? on its own often asks about a price: How much is this lamp? = What does it cost?
  • Some nouns can be both: How many cakes? (whole cakes) · How much cake? (an amount: a piece, half a cake…)
Watch out: not How many money?, not two rices, not We don't have many space.

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