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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > doubt....need help
doubt....need help
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Chilvis
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doubt....need help
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Hi, hope you �re all right. I �m writing to ask about quantifiers:
I �ve found in an elementary coursebook a grammar box that says that many and much (for countable nouns and uncountable nouns respectively) are used in negative and interrogative sentences and that we need to use a lot of to talk about an indefinite quantity in the affirmative.
So, my question is:
Can we use many/much in affirmative sentences?
Is there a difference in saying for instance:
There are a lot of books on the table or
There are many books on the table???
Thanks for your help  |
17 Jun 2010
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juliag
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Hi Chilvis
As a native speaker I would always say "There is a lot of books on the table/water in the glass" rather than using many and much.
Hope it helps.
Have a nice day.
Julia |
17 Jun 2010
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sulekra
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I use �a lot of � just as often as much/many.
There are a lot of books/there are many books - are exactly the same to me, though in conversation I would favour �a lot of �, especially with uncountables:
I will need a lot of advice before I make a decision.
I will need much advice before I make a decision. - this second option just sounds a little strange to me, even though I know it �s correct grammatically, just because I �m so used to hearing �a lot of � used...
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17 Jun 2010
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dawnmain
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we tend to say a lot of in positive sentences - much or many is correct but more formal in this case, usually found in questions and negatives.
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17 Jun 2010
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douglas
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Sulekra described it very well. |
17 Jun 2010
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Apodo
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There are a lot of books on the table.
or
There are many books on the table.
A lot of sounds much more natural when speaking, particularly if this is the complete statement, but
There are many books which have been writtten especially for young children. - This would sound much better if you were writing an article/essay. |
17 Jun 2010
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Zora
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Can I add that "a lot of" can be used in the negative and interrogative form too?
There aren �t a lot of books in the school library.
Are there a lot of books in that section of the library?
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17 Jun 2010
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fifey
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I would never use there is for plural, it would be there are, and i �m a native speaker
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17 Jun 2010
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