Much, Many and A Lot Of: A2 Exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. How ___ people were at the concert? → many

People is countable, so the question uses many.

2. How ___ sugar do you take? → much

Sugar is uncountable, so much is used.

3. There isn't ___ milk left in the fridge. → much

Milk is uncountable and the sentence is negative.

4. I haven't got ___ friends in this city yet. → many

Friends is countable and the sentence is negative.

5. She has ___ books about architecture. → a lot of

A positive statement prefers a lot of to many.

6. Which noun is uncountable? → advice

Advice has no plural in English and takes much rather than many.

7. We don't have ___ time before the train leaves. → much

Time is uncountable and the sentence is negative.

8. There were ___ of tourists in the old town. → lots

Lots of is the informal equivalent of a lot of.

9. How ___ does the ticket cost? → much

How much is the standard question about price.

10. Which sentence sounds most natural? → I have a lot of homework tonight.

Positive statements prefer a lot of; much sounds formal or odd there.

11. He doesn't earn ___ money in that job. → much

Money is uncountable and the sentence is negative.

12. ___ of the students failed the first test. → Many

Many of + the + plural noun is the correct partitive structure.

13. Is there ___ traffic on the motorway? → much

Traffic is uncountable, so a question about it uses much.

14. There aren't ___ trains after ten o'clock. → many

Trains is countable and the sentence is negative.

15. Which noun is countable? → suggestion

Suggestion has a plural, unlike the other three.

16. We spent ___ of money on that holiday. → lots

Lots of works with uncountable nouns as well as countable ones.

17. How ___ luggage are you taking? → much

Luggage is uncountable in English, even though it means several bags.

18. There is ___ rain here in November. → a lot of

A positive statement with an uncountable noun prefers a lot of.

19. Not ___ people know about this café. → many

Not many is the negative form used with countable nouns.

20. Which question asks about quantity of an uncountable noun? → How much water?

Water cannot be counted, so it takes how much.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. How ___ eggs do we need for the cake? → many

Eggs is countable, so the question uses many.

2. How ___ does a taxi to the airport cost? → much

Questions about price use how much.

3. There isn't ___ bread left for the morning. → much

Bread is uncountable and the sentence is negative.

4. I don't know ___ people at this party. → many

People is countable and the sentence is negative.

5. She drinks a ___ of coffee during the day. → lot

A lot of is the natural quantifier in a positive statement.

6. We haven't got ___ petrol to get home. → enough

Petrol is uncountable, so it takes an uncountable quantifier.

7. ___ of the shops close at six on Saturday. → Many

Many of + the + plural noun is the correct structure.

8. Is there ___ snow in the mountains this year? → much

Snow is uncountable, so the question uses much.

9. There were lots ___ children at the playground. → of

Lots is always followed by of before the noun.

10. He doesn't have ___ experience with this software. → much

Experience is uncountable in this sense.

11. How ___ hours did the journey take? → many

Hours is countable, so many is used.

12. Not ___ students came to the extra class. → many

Not many is the negative form for countable nouns.

13. There is a ___ of noise from the building site. → lot

A lot of works with uncountable nouns too.

14. We didn't take ___ luggage on the flight. → much

Luggage is uncountable in English.

15. How ___ languages does she speak? → many

Languages is countable, so the question uses many.

16. I haven't had ___ sleep this week. → much

Sleep is uncountable and the sentence is negative.

17. There aren't ___ buses on Sunday mornings. → many

Buses is countable and the sentence is negative.

18. She gave me a lot ___ useful advice. → of

A lot is always followed by of before the noun.

19. How ___ water should I add to the rice? → much

Water is uncountable, so the question uses much.

20. Too ___ cars use this narrow street. → many

Cars is countable, so too many is correct.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. Ask about population with a countable noun. → How many people live in your town?

Ask about population with a countable noun.

2. Ask about an uncountable quantity in a recipe. → How much milk do you need?

Ask about an uncountable quantity in a recipe.

3. Warn about limited room, with an uncountable noun. → There isn't much space in the car.

Warn about limited room, with an uncountable noun.

4. Report a shortage of choices. → We haven't got many options left.

Report a shortage of choices.

5. Describe a busy day, in a positive statement. → She has a lot of work today.

Describe a busy day, in a positive statement.

6. Describe a crowded place informally. → There were lots of tourists there.

Describe a crowded place informally.

7. Ask about a price in a shop. → How much does this jacket cost?

Ask about a price in a shop.

8. Describe limited weekend opening. → Not many shops open on Sundays.

Describe limited weekend opening.

9. Report cutting down on a drink. → I don't drink much coffee anymore.

Report cutting down on a drink.

10. Describe repairs in a building. → Many of the windows need replacing.

Describe repairs in a building.

11. Explain a delay on the roads. → There is a lot of traffic today.

Explain a delay on the roads.

12. Ask about somebody's working week. → How many hours do you work?

Ask about somebody's working week.

13. Report a short visit. → We didn't have much time there.

Report a short visit.

14. Complain about parking with a countable noun. → Too many cars park on this street.

Complain about parking with a countable noun.

15. Report receiving guidance, uncountable. → She gave me a lot of advice.

Report receiving guidance, uncountable.

16. Ask about conditions before a ski trip. → Is there much snow in the mountains?

Ask about conditions before a ski trip.

17. Ask about the size of an inbox. → How many emails did you get?

Ask about the size of an inbox.

18. Report limited availability at a venue. → There aren't many seats left now.

Report limited availability at a venue.

19. Describe an expensive habit. → He spends a lot of money on books.

Describe an expensive habit.

20. Explain why you need to pay by card. → I haven't got much cash with me.

Explain why you need to pay by card.