EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITY: MUCH / MANY /
LITTLE / FEW / A LOT (OF) / LOTS (OF)
LITTLE / FEW / A LOT (OF) / LOTS (OF)
number or amount.
LITTLE and FEW indicate a small number or amount of something.
MUCH AND MANY
MUCH is used with uncountable nouns in negative sentences and questions.
MANY is used with countable nouns in negative sentences and questions.
I don't drink much alcohol.
Were there many people at the party?
You didn't eat much last night.
However, we usually use TOO MUCH / SO MUCH / TOO MANY / SO MANY in
affirmative sentences.
She spends too much money.
There are so many cars that it's impossible to park.
LITTLE AND FEW
LITTLE is used with uncountable nouns in affirmative sentences.
FEW is used with countable nouns in affirmative sentences.
LITTLE and FEW (without “a") have a negative meaning and are equivalent to not
much / not many.
There were few people in class yesterday. = There weren’t many people in class
yesterday.
I have little patience with people who don't listen.
We often say VERY LITTLE, VERY FEW, ONLY A LITTLE and ONLY A FEW.
There were very few students / only a few students in class yesterday. = There
weren't many students.
I've got very little work to do today. / I've got only a little work to do today. = I
haven't got much work to do today.
A LITTLE (=some, a small amount) and A FEW (=some, a small number) have a more
positive meaning.
There's a little wine left. Would you like another glass? (There's enough wine
for you
to have some more.)
There are a few new books in the library. Why don't you take one home to read?
Compare:
She spoke little Spanish, so it was difficult to communicate with her.
She spoke a little Spanish, so I was able to communicate with her.
A LOT (OF) AND LOTS (OF)
LOTS OF and A LOT OF are used with both countable and uncountable nouns in
affirmative sentences.
I have a lot of friends who would disagree with you.
This recipe requires lots of sugar and chocolate.
(How many glasses of wine did you drink?) Lots. / A lot.
They go out a lot.
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