EXAMPLES. 1. How many more men for certificates?1. How many more men for certificates? 2. Many of his patients were ambulant consumptives. 3. I had so many friends. 4. «We visited there ever so many years ago, but we didn’t meet many Californians.» «There aren’t many, are there?» 5. It seemed to give him so much trouble that Leila was ashamed. 6. You needn’t expect much food here. Oh, no! ) 7. «Do you see much of him, Edward?» «Yes, quite a lot.» «Do you like him?» «Very much.» 8. So there’s really no fame in it, and no money, and not too much happiness in terms of what the world has to offer. 9. Mother had not much appetite, nor indeed, had I.
EXPLANATORY NOTES 1. Many modifies only countable nouns; the sphere of application of much is wider; it may refer to uncountable nouns, to verbs, and to adjectives (adverbs) in the comparative degree. Russian learners sometimes confuse these words because in Russian много modifies both countable and uncountable nouns. 2. It follows from what has been said above that much is never applied to nouns in the plural. 3. Both many and much have several equivalents: a lot (lots) of, plenty of. A good (great) deal of is equivalent only to much. 4. Many can be modified by the words good or great, e.g. a good many times. 5.Normally, many is not modified by very, although it is perfectly correct to say not very many. 6.There is a tendency in colloquial English to use much in interrogative and negative sentences, and replace it by plenty of, a good (great) deal of, or a lot (lots) of in affirmative sentences. 7. Many (most) is never followed directly by word-groups like these children, my friends, etc. or by personal pronouns. Likewise much (most) cannot be followed directly by word-groups like this work, my time, etc. The of-phrase is the only correct form here. 8. Not to see much of somebody means «not to see somebody often or for long», e.g. We don’t see much of you these days. 9. Remember that the Russian много интересного (нового, полезного и т. д.) corresponds to the English many interesting (new, useful, etc.) things.
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