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General English · A1

Much, many, a lot of, a little, a few

Talk about large and small quantities and ask how much or how many.

What you will learn

  • Match quantity words to the noun type.
  • Ask how much and how many questions.
  • Describe a large amount or a small positive amount.

Miqdor so‘zini tanlashda otga qarang: books sanaladi, water sanalmaydi. Many va a few ko‘plikdagi sanaladigan otlar bilan; much va a little sanalmaydigan otlar bilan ishlatiladi.

Use many with plural countable nouns and much with uncountable nouns. They are especially common in questions and negatives: How many bags? Not much time. A lot of and lots of work with both types and are common in positive statements. For a small positive quantity, use a few with plural countable nouns and a little with uncountable nouns. A few minutes means some minutes; a little time means some time.

Grammar Tables

On small screens, swipe tables sideways.

Choose by noun type
MeaningPlural countableUncountable
questionHow many apples?How much milk?
not a large quantitynot many applesnot much milk
large quantitya lot of / lots of applesa lot of / lots of milk
small positive quantitya few applesa little milk
Useful complete patterns
PatternExample
How many + plural nounHow many people live here?
How much + uncountable nounHow much water do we need?
a lot of + nounWe have a lot of homework.
a few + plural nounI have a few questions.
a little + uncountable nounThere is a little cheese left.

Examples

Countable question

How many chairs do we need?

Nechta stul kerak?

Uncountable negative

I don’t have much money today.

Bugun pulim ko‘p emas.

Large number

There are lots of flowers in the garden.

Bog‘da gullar ko‘p.

Small amount

Add a little oil to the pan.

Tovaga biroz yog‘ qo‘shing.

Small number

We stayed for a few days.

Biz bir necha kun qoldik.

Common Mistakes

Avoid: How much students are there?

Use: How many students are there?

Students is plural and countable.

Avoid: I haven’t got many time.

Use: I haven’t got much time.

Time is uncountable in this meaning.

Avoid: She has a lot friends.

Use: She has a lot of friends.

Keep of before the noun.

Avoid: We need a little eggs.

Use: We need a few eggs.

A small number of plural eggs takes a few.

Practice & Feedback

Practise freely. Scores stay on this page only and reset when you leave or reload. Feedback appears after checking each exercise.

1 · Match the noun

Choose the answer that fits the meaning and grammar.

1. How ___ bottles do you need?
2. How ___ rice is in the bag?
3. There aren’t ___ cars today.
4. We don’t have ___ space in this room.
5. I have ___ coins: just three.
6. There’s ___ soup left: enough for a small bowl.
7. She has a lot ___ work today.
8. There are lots ___ trees here.
9. How ___ is this ticket? Five pounds?
10. We only need ___ minutes to finish.

Answer every question to check this exercise.

2 · Complete the expression

Follow the clue and type the missing word or words.

1. How ___ sugar do you take? (Much or many.)
2. How ___ lessons have you got today? (Much or many.)
3. I don’t eat ___ meat. (Much or many.)
4. There aren’t ___ people waiting. (Much or many.)
5. We need a ___ water. (Little or few.)
6. Take a ___ biscuits. (Little or few.)
7. He drinks a lot ___ tea.
8. They have lots ___ ideas.
9. I’ve got ___ friends here, so I’m not alone. (A few or a little.)
10. There’s ___ bread left for you. (A few or a little.)

Answer every question to check this exercise.

3 · Talk about quantities

Choose the answer that fits the meaning and grammar.

1. Choose the correct question.
2. Choose the correct sentence.
3. Describe a small amount of butter.
4. Describe a small number of bags.
5. Choose the correct expression for a large amount of rain.
6. Choose the correct expression for a large number of photos.
7. A: How many sandwiches? B: ___. (A small number.)
8. A: How much juice? B: ___. (A small amount.)
9. Which phrase means some pencils, a small positive number?
10. Choose the correct sentence about homework.

Answer every question to check this exercise.

Review

  • Many / a few + plural countable; much / a little + uncountable.
  • A lot of and lots of work with both noun types.
  • Keep of before a noun; use how much for amounts and prices, how many for numbers.
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