Much or Many? Exercise 1
|level: Intermediate (B1/B2)
Much and many both express large quantities, but which one you use depends entirely on the type of noun in the sentence. Getting this right is one of the first quantifier skills English learners need to master.
Grammar review
Much or many?
The choice between much and many depends entirely on whether the noun it modifies is countable or uncountable.
MANY — use with countable nouns (things you can count individually):
chairs, countries, mistakes, songs, questions, cups
→ How many chairs are there? / She’s made many mistakes.
MUCH — use with uncountable nouns (things that can’t be counted individually):
water, time, furniture, luggage, rice, meat, money
→ How much water do you drink? / We don’t have much time.
Tricky uncountables to remember:
furniture, luggage, advice, information, news, equipment, traffic, homework — these look like they could be countable but are not. You say a piece of furniture, not a furniture.
Both are used mainly in questions and negatives:
In positive statements, a lot of is more natural: “She has a lot of relatives.”
In formal writing, much in positive statements is acceptable: “Much progress has been made.”
Quick test: Can you put a number in front of the noun? If yes → many. If no → much.
The choice between much and many depends entirely on whether the noun it modifies is countable or uncountable.
MANY — use with countable nouns (things you can count individually):
chairs, countries, mistakes, songs, questions, cups
→ How many chairs are there? / She’s made many mistakes.
MUCH — use with uncountable nouns (things that can’t be counted individually):
water, time, furniture, luggage, rice, meat, money
→ How much water do you drink? / We don’t have much time.
Tricky uncountables to remember:
furniture, luggage, advice, information, news, equipment, traffic, homework — these look like they could be countable but are not. You say a piece of furniture, not a furniture.
Both are used mainly in questions and negatives:
In positive statements, a lot of is more natural: “She has a lot of relatives.”
In formal writing, much in positive statements is acceptable: “Much progress has been made.”
Quick test: Can you put a number in front of the noun? If yes → many. If no → much.
1. How times did you call him?✓
2. How furniture do you have in your apartment?✓
3. I don't have time.✓
4. She has relatives.✓
5. There isn't fruit left.✓
6. I have visited countries.✓
7. She knows how to play songs.✓
8. He doesn't eat rice.✓
9. How money does he have?✓
10. He has bottles of wine at home.✓
11. How milk do you drink?✓
12. I have questions for you.✓
13. They don't eat bread.✓
14. We don't have luggage with us.✓
15. There aren't mistakes on your test.✓
16. This is one of the cities that I like.✓
17. My father doesn't eat meat these days.✓
18. How birds do you hear?✓
19. How wine do we have?✓
20. How cups of coffee do you drink per day?✓
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER RELATED EXERCISES:
Much or many? 1 (B1/B2)
Much or many? 2 (B1/B2)
Some or any? 2 (A2/B1)
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Much or many? 1 (B1/B2)
Much or many? 2 (B1/B2)
Some or any? 2 (A2/B1)
More grammar exercises
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