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GRAMMAR AT WORK lANGUAGE •MUCH, MANY, LlTTLE AND FEW
Bei diesen vier Zahlwörtern gibt es ein paar Punkte zu beachten. ANNA HOCHSlEDER erläutert die
Einzelheiten und Besonderheiten, die zu beachten sind.Can you count it?
We use much, liUle and a little with singular uncountable
nouns, and many, few and a few with plural countable nouns:- Many people spend too much money on insurance.
- She has few customers and earns very liUle money.
- Would you like a little coffee and a few biscuits?
If it is clear, we can drop the noun after the quantifier: - He drinks too much (alcoholl.
- Some more coffee? - Just a little (coffee), thanks.
Enough or not enough?
Uttle means "a sma" amount", and few means "a small
number", often wit h the connotation "not enough":- John has got little money and few f riends.
On the other hand, a liUle and a few have a more positive
meaning, similar to "some": - Brian's got a liUle money and a few friends.
Formal or informal?
In informal spoken English, much and many are normaliy
used only in negative statements, in quest ions and after 100 ,
very, so and as:- We haven'l got much time.
- There are too many items on the agenda.
In positive statements, with both countable and uncountable
nouns, we prefer a lot of or, more informally, lots of: - I've put a lot of work into the new project.
- We've been having lots of problems with the new software.
Much and many (and a 101 of) can be replaced by other ex-
pressions - for example, a large number of with countable
nouns and a great deal of or a large amounl of with uncount·
able nouns. Plenty of can be used with countable and uno
countable nouns, usua"y meaning "more than enough":- There's no hurry. We've got plenty of t ime.
In formal written EngJish, much and many can also seme·
times be used in positive sentences: - The event was atlended by many distinguished guests.
- After much debate, the committee voted "yes".
General or specific?
Jf a quantifier is followed by of, the meaning becomes more
specific. This const ruction is used before articles, posses-
sive determiners, demonstrat ives and pronouns:- He wasn't there much of Ihe time.
- They invested millions and goi little of the money back.
- Many of my colleagues lost their job last year.
- Few of our customers pay cash.
- Take a little of this medicine twice a day.
- The guests have arrived. I spoke to a few of them just now.
4/2010Comparing- much I many - more - the most
- little - less - the least
- few - fewer - the fewes!
In informal spoken English, people use less with countable
nouns as weil, although this is considered incorrect by con-
servative usage experls.
Other functions
Much, a lot and little can also be used as an adverb to mod-
ify verbs:- They don 'I t ravel much.
- We argued a 101 in the meeting.
- The situation has improved very little.
In formal style, much can come before certain verbs: - I would much prefer to stay here.
- I don't much like Mr Parker.
Quantifiers can function as pronouns to replace nouns:- There was little we could do.
- She didn't say much.
With certain past participles, much is used instead of "very":- Professor Jones was much admired by his students.
- His first name's Arlhur, unless I'm much mistaken.
Like "a bit ", a little can modify an adjective:- It's a little cold in here.
EXERCISE
Circle the best option.
a) I can'! reaily afford to work less I fewer hours.
b) He inherited a little llittle money, so he was able to
buy himself a flal.
c) She hasn't got much I plenty of work experience.
d) Too much I many people ar e involved in this project.
e) She seems 10 spend very many f few of her working
hours aclually doing anything in the office.
Answers on page 87[QJ Practise these quantifiers on Business Spotlight Audio
- For more grammar exercises, see Business Spotlight plus
~ Try more exercises at http://www.business·spotlight.delgrammar
ANNA HOCHSlEDER is a Munich·based teacher of
English as a Second language and also writes on
language Issues in Spotlight and Busmess Spotlight.
Contacl: [email protected]Business Spotlight 73