MUCH


Meaning of MUCH in English

I

pronoun

1

BAD : We don't need to hire that much employees.

GOOD : We don't need to hire that many employees.

BAD : There are as much disadvantages as advantages.

GOOD : There are as many disadvantages as advantages.

BAD : There are too much people in Mexico.

GOOD : There are too many people in Mexico.

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much + uncountable noun: 'There isn't much traffic today.' 'There was too much furniture in the room.'

many + plural (countable) noun: 'There aren't many cars today.' 'There were too many chairs in the room.'

2

BAD : Nowadays, there are much more criminals than policemen.

GOOD : Nowadays, there are far more criminals than policemen.

BAD : I make much too many mistakes.

GOOD : I make far too many mistakes.

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At the beginning of a phrase that ends with a plural (countable) noun, use far (NOT much ). Compare 'much more traffic', 'far more cars'

3

BAD : As a doctor he earns much money.

GOOD : As a doctor he earns a lot of money.

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See note at MANY 1 (↑ many )

4

See TOO MUCH 2

II

adverb

BAD : British culture is much different from ours.

GOOD : British culture is very different from ours.

BAD : We were much afraid that we would miss the flight.

GOOD : We were very afraid that we would miss the flight.

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Much is used before an adjective (1) in questions and negative sentences: 'Is British culture much different from ours?' 'No, it isn't much different.' (2) before comparative forms: 'His last novel was much longer and much more interesting.' (3) before certain past participles acting as adjectives: 'Her drawings are much admired.'

Longman Common Errors English vocabulary.      Английский словарь распространенных ошибок Longman.