Noun Quantifiers - A lot, Much and Many

Quantifiers answer the question how much? or how many?

Quantifiers are words like: a lot of, a little, a few.

Some quantifiers can only be used with countable nouns, some can only be used with uncountable nouns and some can be used with both.

The table below shows how to use these words

Quantifier	Meaning	Example	Countable noun	Uncountable noun
A lot of	A large amount	He has a lot of money.	Yes	Yes
Many	A large amount	He has many friends.	Yes	No
Much	A large amount	He doesn’t have much money.	No	Yes

Constructing Sentences with a lot of, many and much

We can use a lot of, many and much in questions, positive sentences and negative sentences.

BUT it sounds formal to use many and much in positive sentences. It is better to use a lot of.

There are many people. (FORMAL) There are a lot of people. (INFORMAL) 

Click on the links below to study these other Noun Quantifiers

Noun Quantifiers - Introductions

Noun Quantifiers - Enough and Plenty of

Noun Quantifiers - A few, few, a little and little

Noun Quantifiers - Too much and Too Many

Noun Quantifiers - Some, Any, No

Quantifiers - Compound Forms with Some, Any and No