UNIT 87. Much, many, little, few, a lot, plenty. ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

UNIT 87. Much, many, little, few, a lot, plenty.

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 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.
B	Much is unusual in positive sentences (especially in spoken English). Compare: but √ We didn't spend much money. We spent a Lot of money. (not We spent much money) Do you see David much? I see David a lot. (not I see David much) but √ 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)
C	Little = not much, few = 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. √
D	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 little and a little, few and a few: √ 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

87.1	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. 1 We didn't spend much money. Sue drinks much tea. Joe always puts much salt on his food. We'll have to hurry. We don't have much time. It cost much to repair the car. _______ OK______. 2 _____a lot of tea ______. 3 _____________________ 4 _____________________ 5 _____________________ 6 Did it cost much to repair the car? I don't know much people in this town. Mike travels much. There wasn't much traffic this morning. You need much money to travel round the world. _____________________ 7 _____________________ 8 _____________________ 9 _____________________ 10 _____________________
87.2	Complete the sentences using plenty or plenty of+ the following: hotels money room time to learn to see 1 There's no need to hurry. There's _______ plenty of time ____________. 2 He doesn't have any financial problems. He has Come and sit with us. There’s ____________________________________ She knows a lot, but she still has ____________________________________ It's an interesting town to visit. There ____________________________________ I'm sure we'll find somewhere to stay. ____________________________________ 3 4 5 6
87.3	Put in much/many/little/few (one word only). 1 She isn't very popular. She has ______few_______ friends. 2 Ann is very busy these days. She has ... free time. Did you take ___________ pictures when you were on holiday? I'm not very busy today. I don't have ___________ to do. This is a very modern city. There are ___________ old buildings. The weather has been very dry recently. We've had ___________ rain. 'Do you know Rome?' 'No, I haven't been there for ___________ years.' 3 4 5 6 7
87.4	Put in a (a few, a little) where necessary. Write 'OK' if the sentence is already complete. 1 She's lucky. She has few problems. ______ OK ________ 2 Things are not going so well for her. She has few problems. ___ a few problems _____ 3 Can you lend me few dollars? There was little traffic, so the journey didn't take very long. I can't give you a decision yet. I need little time to think. It was a surprise that he won the match. Few people expected him to win. I don't know much Spanish - only few words. I wonder how Sam is. I haven't seen him for few months. _____________________ 4 _____________________ 5 _____________________ 6 _____________________ 7 _____________________ 8 _____________________
87.5	Put in little /a little /few /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. Do you mind if I ask you ___________ questions? It's not a very interesting place to visit, so ___________  tourists come here. I don't think Amy would be a good teacher. She has ___________ patience. 'Would you like milk in your coffee?' 'Yes, ___________  . This is a very boring place to live. There's ___________ to do. 'Have you ever been to Paris . ?' . 'Yes, I've been  there ___________  times.’ 3 4 5 6 7 8

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