much
determiner (much, more, most); adverb (much); pronoun (much)
Everyday
- Much means a lot of something you do not count one by one, like much water or much money. tree →
- «How much» asks for an amount or a price. tree →
- Much makes a comparison stronger: much bigger, much faster. tree →
- «Not much» means only a little. tree →
- «Too much» means more than you need or want. tree →
- (casual) «Not much» answers «What's up?» and means nothing special; «much?» alone asks the price. tree →
- (sarcastic, casual) «Much?» or «…much?» mocks someone: «Jealous much?» means you are clearly jealous. tree →
- (rough) «Too much» can mean someone is being unbearable: «you're too much, mate»; «so much for that» means it failed. tree →
- (formal) «The quantity of», «to what extent» and «considerable» are the stiff words: «Determine the quantity of water remaining.» tree →
- Much can also mean very greatly, as in "it hurt so much". tree →
In the lessons
in «how much» questions about money, liquid, weight or time; in comparisons «how much more», «much bigger»; in everyday life «how much is it?» asks the price; in casual talk «how much for 3?», «not much»; in the exam voice «ascertain the sum expended» or «determine the quantity»; phrases «so much», «too much», «as much as», «thank you very much», «not much», «much the same», «much of a muchness» (UK)
Examples
- How much money does she have left? tree →
- How much more does the bike cost than the ball? tree →
- How much water is in the tank? tree →
- He did not eat much. tree →
- How much is this ice cream? tree →
- A whale is much bigger than a dolphin. tree →
- Thank you very much for the present. tree →
- Don't eat too much candy before dinner. tree →
- how much for 3 of them? (casual) tree →
- «What's up?» «Not much, you?» (casual) tree →
- Ate all 8 cookies? Greedy much? (sarcastic) tree →
- Ascertain the quantity of water, in litres, remaining in the vessel subsequent to the removal of 4 litres. (formal exam) tree →
- It has hurt me so much!” tree →
Note
«How much» asks for an amount (often money or a measure); «how many» asks for a count. «How much more/less» asks for a difference, so subtract. Trap: «much more» in a sentence is not a number. Much goes with uncountable nouns (much sand), many with countable ones (many shells). In casual talk «how much» is often said wrongly for a count («how much kids») — answer with a count. «Greedy much?» is a jibe, not a question about amount. Formal «the quantity of» = how much.
In Jewish tradition
Used as in everyday English, often in the old way to mean a great amount or very. In the primary lessons: in «how much» questions about money, liquid, weight or time; in comparisons «how much more», «much bigger»; in everyday life «how much is it?» asks the price; in casual talk «how much for 3?», «not much»; in the exam voice «ascertain the sum expended» or «determine the quantity»; phrases «so much», «too much», «as much as», «thank you very much», «not much», «much the same», «much of a muchness» (UK)
Examples
- And Abimelech said unto Isaac: 'Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.' (Torah GEN.26.16, JPS 1917) tree →
- And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. (Torah EXO.12.38, JPS 1917) tree →
- For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much. (Torah EXO.36.7, JPS 1917) tree →
- And he brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much. (Prophets 2SA.12.30, JPS 1917) tree →
- I am afflicted very much; quicken me, O LORD, according unto Thy word. (Writings PSA.119.107, JPS 1917) tree →
- Overbearing speech becometh not a churl; much less do lying lips a prince. (Writings PRO.17.7, JPS 1917) tree →
Note
«How much» asks for an amount (often money or a measure); «how many» asks for a count. «How much more/less» asks for a difference, so subtract. Trap: «much more» in a sentence is not a number. Much goes with uncountable nouns (much sand), many with countable ones (many shells). In casual talk «how much» is often said wrongly for a count («how much kids») — answer with a count. «Greedy much?» is a jibe, not a question about amount. Formal «the quantity of» = how much.
On Mova
- Trees and pragmatics of «much» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «much» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
- Trees and pragmatics of «much» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «much» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
This page in Markdown → https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/much/