Much, Many or A Lot Of?Choosing by the kind of sentence you are in

In positive sentences, say a lot of. In negatives and questions, much and many are common too.

• POSITIVE → A LOT OF

  We bought a lot of fruit at the market.

• NEGATIVE → MUCH / MANY

  There weren't many people at the cinema.

  You can count people: many.

• QUESTION → MUCH / MANY

  Did you get much sleep last night?

  You can't count sleep: much.

Positive → a lot of. Negatives and questions → much or many.

I have much time sounds strange. Say I have a lot of time.

• NEGATIVE

  Sdon't / didn'tVmuch / manynoun

  We didn't take many photos.

  Much: water, time, money. Many: photos, people, cars.

• QUESTION

  Do / DidSVmuch / manynoun?

  Do you eat much meat?

  Choose the same way as in a negative.

• PRICE

  How muchis / are / was / were…?

  How much are these sandals?

  Don't add money.

• PRICE WITH COST

  How muchdoes / didScost?

  How much did your new phone cost?

  Cost goes at the end.

1. Short answers

   Was there a lot of traffic? — Not much.

   Drop the noun, but choose by it: traffic → Not much.

2. At the end of the sentence

   Do you go out much?

   Questions and negatives: much. Positive: She laughs a lot.

3. Counting with there

   How many rooms were there in the hotel?

   How many + plural noun + are there / were there?

• Incorrect:I sleep much at the weekend.

  Correct:I sleep a lot at the weekend.

  At the end of a positive sentence, use a lot.

• Incorrect:I have much homework today.

  Correct:I have a lot of homework today.

  Positive sentence: a lot of.

• Incorrect:I don't have many money now.

  Correct:I don't have much money now.

  You can't count money: much.

• Incorrect:How much money are these jeans?

  Correct:How much are these jeans?

  How much already asks for a price. Don't add money.

• Incorrect:How much did cost your phone?

  Correct:How much did your phone cost?

  Did, then your phone, then cost.

• Incorrect:Did you take many photos? — No, not much.

  Correct:Did you take many photos? — No, not many.

  You can count photos: not many.

• Incorrect:How many students there are in your class?

  Correct:How many students are there in your class?

  In a question, are comes before there.