Many
Learn Many in English and practice using it with countable nouns, questions, and negatives in clear everyday sentences.
Many talks about a large number of countable nouns. Countable nouns have singular and plural forms. Many goes before plural countable nouns.
Use many with nouns you can count as one, two, three, and more. These nouns take a plural form after many. Do not use many with singular nouns or with uncountable nouns.
| Word or Phrase | Definition |
|---|---|
| These are countable nouns, so many can go before them. | |
| These are countable nouns, so many can go before them. | |
| This is a countable noun in plural form, so many can go before it. | |
| These are countable nouns, so many can go before them. |
Many is common in questions. It asks about a large number or about the number of plural countable nouns. It comes before the plural countable noun in the question.
| Rule |
|---|
| Use many to ask about the number of plural countable nouns. |
| Put many before the plural countable noun in the question. |
| Many is common with everyday things, people, and times. |
Many is also common in negative sentences. It shows that the number is not large or not as large as expected. It comes before the plural countable noun.
| Rule |
|---|
| Use many in negative sentences with plural countable nouns. |
| Put many before the plural countable noun in the negative sentence. |
| Many often appears after do not or does not in present simple sentences. |
Many and much do not use the same kinds of nouns. Many goes with plural countable nouns. Much goes with uncountable nouns.
| Word or Phrase | Definition |
|---|---|
| This word goes with plural countable nouns. | |
| This word goes with uncountable nouns. | |
| These nouns can be counted as separate things. | |
| These nouns are not usually counted as separate things. |
Many can talk about time expressions and everyday quantities when the noun is countable and plural. Use many with words like days, weeks, times, or hours. Do not use many with uncountable time words.
| Word or Phrase | Definition |
|---|---|
| This is a plural countable time noun, so many can go before it. | |
| This is a plural countable time noun, so many can go before it. | |
| This is a plural countable time noun, so many can go before it. | |
| This is a plural countable noun, so many can go before it. |
You can now use many with plural countable nouns. You can use many in questions and negative sentences. You can also choose many instead of much when the noun is countable and plural.