Изучаем English Unit 87. Much, many, little, few, a lot, plenty
Unit 87; Part A
We use much and little with uncountable nouns:much time much luck little energy little money
We use many and few with plural nouns:
many friends many people few cars few countries
Unit 87; Part B
We use a lot of / lots of / plenty of with both uncountable and plural nouns:a lot of luck lots of time plenty of money
a lot of friends lots of people plenty of ideas
Plenty = more than enough:
• There's no need to hurry. We've got plenty of time.
Unit 87; Part C
Much is unusual in positive sentences (especially in spoken English). Compare:• We didn't spend much money.
but We spent a lot of money. (not We spent much money)
• 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:
• Many people drive too fast. or A lot of people drive too fast.
• Do you know many people? or Do you know a lot of people?
• 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)
Unit 87; Part D
Little and few (without a) are negative ideas (= not much / not many):• Gary is very busy with his job. He has little time for other things. (= not much time, less time than he would like)
• 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:
• Gary has very little time for other things.
• Vicky has very few friends in London.
Unit 87; Part E
A little and a few have a more positive meaning.A little = some, a small amount:
• 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)
• 'Do you speak English?' 'A little.' (so we can talk a bit)
A few = some, a small number:
• 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)
• 'When was the last time you saw Clare?' 'A few days ago.' (= some days ago)
Compare:
• He spoke little English, so it was difficult to communicate with him.
He spoke a little English, so we were able to communicate with him.
• She's lucky. She has few problems. (= not many problems)
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:
• Hurry! We only have a little time. (not only little time)
• The village was very small. There were only a few houses. (not only few houses)
Exercises
In some of these sentences much is incorrect or unnatural. Change much to many or a lot (of) where necessary. Write 'OK' if the sentence is correct.Key.3 a lot of salt
4 OK
5 It cost a lot
6 OK
7 many people or a lot of people
8 I use the phone a lot
9 OK
10 a lot of money
| 1 We didn't spend much money. 2 Sue drinks much tea. 3 Joe always puts much salt on his food. 4 We'll have to hurry. We haven't got much time. 5 It cost much to repair the car. 6 Did 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 There wasn't much traffic this morning. 10 You need much money to travel round the world. | OK a lot of tea ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ |
Complete the sentences using plenty (of) + the following:Key.2 He's got plenty of money.
3 There's plenty of room.
4 ... she still has plenty to learn.
5 There are plenty of things to see.
6 There are plenty of hotels.
hotels money room things to see |
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. ________________
Put in much/many/few/little (one word only).Key.2 little
3 many
4 much
5 few
6 little
7 many
1 She isn't very popular. She has few friends.
2 Ann is very busy these days. She has _______ free time.
3 Did you take _______ photographs when you were on holiday?
4 I'm not very busy today. I haven't got _______ to do.
5 This is a very modern city. There are _______ old buildings.
6 The weather has been very dry recently. We've had _______ rain.
7 'Do you know Rome?' "No. I haven't been there for _______ years.'
Put in a where necessary. Write 'OK' if the sentence is already complete.Key.3 a few dollars
4 OK
5 a little time
6 OK
7 only a few words
8 a few months
| 1 She's lucky. She has few problems. 2 Things are not going so well for her. She has few problems. 3 Can you lend me few dollars? 4 There was little traffic, so the journey didn't take very long. 5 I can't give you a decision yet. I need little time to think. 6 It was a surprise that he won the match. Few people expected him to win. 7 I don't know much Spanish - only few words. 8 I wonder how Sam is. I haven't seen him for few months. | OK a few problems _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ |
Put in little / a little / few / a few.Key.2 a little
3 a few
4 few
5 little
6 a little
7 little
8 a few
1 Gary is very busy with his job. He has little time for other things.
2 Listen carefully. I'm going to give you _______ advice.
3 Do you mind if I ask you _______ questions?
4 It's not a very interesting place to visit, so _______ tourists come here.
5 I don't think Jill would be a good teacher. She's got patience.
6 'Would you like milk in your coffee?' 'Yes, _______.'
7 This is a very boring place to live. There's _______ to do.
8 'Have you ever been to Paris?' 'Yes, I've been there _______ times.'
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