Level A1

Much vs Many

Things we count take many (how many apples), things we don't count take much (how much water). Much is at home in questions and with not; in a plain positive sentence we say a lot of.

How many apples?

Look: How many apples? Apples can be counted, so many.

Forms

• How many apples? — apples can be counted: one, two, three, so many
• How much water? — water is not counted one by one, so much
• I don't have much time. — much is at home in questions and with not

A common mistake

Wrong: There are too much cars in the city.

Right: There are too many cars in the city.

So many people say too much cars, but cars can be counted. We say: There are too many cars in the city.

More examples

He has a lot of money.

In a plain positive sentence, much sounds odd. We say a lot of: He has a lot of money. And a lot of works for both: apples and water.

How much sugar?

Sugar is like water, we don't count it one by one: How much sugar?