Much, Many, A Lot Of, A Little, A Few - A1 Grammar

1. I have ___ questions about the homework. Can I ask you after class?

• A. a few ✓
• B. a little
• C. much
• D. many

Answer: a few

A few + countable plural noun (questions). Small positive amount.

2. How ___ sugar do you take in your coffee?

• A. much ✓
• B. many
• C. a few
• D. a lot of

Answer: much

How much + uncountable noun (sugar) to ask about quantity.

3. There are ___ great cafes in this neighbourhood. You will love it.

• A. a lot of ✓
• B. much
• C. a little
• D. how many

Answer: a lot of

A lot of + countable plural noun (cafes) in positive sentences.

4. She doesn't have ___ free time. She works very long hours.

• A. much ✓
• B. many
• C. a few
• D. a little

Answer: much

Much + uncountable noun (free time) in negative sentences.

5. How ___ siblings do you have?

• A. many ✓
• B. much
• C. a few
• D. a little

Answer: many

How many + countable plural noun (siblings) to ask about quantity.

6. Just add ___ olive oil to the pan before you fry the onions.

• A. a little ✓
• B. a few
• C. many
• D. how much

Answer: a little

A little + uncountable noun (olive oil). Small positive amount.

7. I really enjoyed the film. I liked it ___.

• A. a lot ✓
• B. a lot of
• C. much
• D. many

Answer: a lot

When there is no noun after the quantifier, use 'a lot' not 'a lot of': I liked it a lot.

8. There aren't ___ vegetarian options on the menu. I might just have a salad.

• A. many ✓
• B. much
• C. a little
• D. a lot of

Answer: many

Many + countable plural noun (options) in negative sentences.

9. She spent ___ time preparing for the presentation. It was perfect.

• A. a lot of ✓
• B. many
• C. a few
• D. how much

Answer: a lot of

A lot of + uncountable noun (time) in positive sentences.

10. I only need ___ more minutes to finish this. Please wait.

• A. a few ✓
• B. a little
• C. much
• D. many

Answer: a few

A few + countable plural noun (minutes). Small positive amount.

1. My friend Sam moved to a new city three months ago and he loves it. There are _____ things to do and the people are very friendly.<br> He has already made _____ new friends at work and they go out together at the weekends.<br> He doesn't have _____ money right now because the move was expensive, but he is not worried.<br> There are _____ free things to do in the city, like markets, parks, and free concerts.<br> He told me he spends _____ time each morning reading in the park before work. He says it is the best part of his day.<br> He doesn't spend _____ time at home in the evenings because there is always something to do.<br> There are _____ great restaurants near his flat, and he has tried _____ of them already.<br> He says he doesn't miss his old city very _____, but he does miss his family.<br> He visits them _____ times a month when he can.

• A. a lot of
• B. much
• C. a little
• D. a few
• E. a little
• F. much
• G. much
• H. many
• I. a few
• J. a lot of
• K. much
• L. a little
• M. a little
• N. a few
• O. many
• P. much
• Q. many
• R. a lot of
• S. many
• T. much
• U. a little
• V. a few
• W. a little
• X. many
• Y. much
• Z. many
• [. a few
• \. a few
• ]. a little
• ^. much

Answer: a lot of, a few, much, a lot of, a little, much, many, a few, much, a few

Much + uncountable in negatives. Many + countable plural in negatives/questions. A lot of + either in positives. A few + countable plural (small positive amount). A little + uncountable (small positive amount).

1. of / friends / a / she / lot / has

Answer: She has a lot of friends.

A lot of + countable plural noun (friends) in positive sentences.

2. much / isn't / there / water / left

Answer: There isn't much water left.

Much + uncountable noun (water) in negative sentences.

3. how / cost / much / does / it / ?

Answer: How much does it cost?

How much to ask about price.

4. a / questions / I / few / have

Answer: I have a few questions.

A few + countable plural noun (questions). Small positive amount.

5. many / how / people / coming / are / ?

Answer: How many people are coming?

How many + countable plural noun (people) to ask about quantity.

6. little / tea / a / more / like / I'd

Answer: I'd like a little more tea.

A little + uncountable noun (tea). Small positive amount.

7. doesn't / much / he / free / have / time

Answer: He doesn't have much free time.

Much + uncountable noun (free time) in negative sentences.

8. things / a / I / few / need / buy / to

Answer: I need to buy a few things.

A few + countable plural noun (things). Small positive amount.

9. aren't / restaurants / many / there / good / here

Answer: There aren't many good restaurants here.

Many + countable plural noun (restaurants) in negative sentences.

10. of / traffic / lot / there / is / a

Answer: There is a lot of traffic.

A lot of + uncountable noun (traffic) in positive sentences.

1. You are an English conversation tutor doing a structured speaking drill with an A1 student. The grammar focus is: (1) many + countable plural nouns in negatives and questions, (2) much + uncountable nouns in negatives and questions, (3) a lot of + countable or uncountable nouns in positives, (4) a few + countable plural nouns (small positive amount), (5) a little + uncountable nouns (small positive amount), (6) how much to ask about price. STRUCTURE: Ask exactly 6 questions, one at a time. Wait for the student's full answer before continuing. QUESTIONS TO ASK (in this order): 1. 'Tell me about your free time. Do you have a lot of free time? What do you spend a lot of time doing?' (target: I have a lot of free time at the weekend. I spend a lot of time reading. I don't have much free time during the week.) 2. 'Tell me about the food in your fridge right now. How much or how many of different things do you have? Use a lot of, a few, a little, not much, not many.' (target: I have a lot of vegetables. There is a little milk. I don't have many eggs. There isn't much cheese.) 3. 'I will give you a noun. You make a sentence using the correct quantifier. Ready? Coffee. Friends. Money. Time.' (target: I drink a lot of coffee. I have a few close friends. I don't have much money this month. I spend a little time exercising.) 4. 'Tell me about your city or neighbourhood. What are there a lot of? What aren't there many of?' (target: There are a lot of cafes. There aren't many parks. There is a lot of traffic.) 5. 'I will give you a situation. Ask me a how much or how many question. Ready? We are in a shop and I want to buy something. You are planning a party and need to know how many people are coming. You are cooking and need to know about an ingredient.' (target: How much is it? How many people are coming? How much flour do I need?) 6. 'Tell me about something you know a little about and something you know a lot about.' (target: I know a little about history but I know a lot about cooking.) FEEDBACK RULES: - If the student uses 'much' in a positive sentence (e.g. 'I have much money'), recast: 'You have a lot of money! That is great.' - If the student uses 'a few' with an uncountable noun (e.g. 'a few milk', 'a few water'), recast: 'A little milk! Good idea.' - If the student uses 'a little' with a countable plural noun (e.g. 'a little friends', 'a little questions'), recast: 'A few friends! That is enough.' - If the student uses 'a lot of' after a verb with no noun (e.g. 'I liked it a lot of'), recast: 'You liked it a lot! Me too.' - Do NOT explain the grammar rule. Only model the correct form in your reply. - After all 6 questions, give one warm sentence of feedback and say goodbye.

1. Question 1