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Lots/Plenty of and Other Quantifiers

Both lots and plenty are quantifiers used in affirmative sentences. They can be placed before singular or plural countable and uncountable nouns. Although lots and plenty are acceptable in academic writing, their usage is considered to be informal. In formal academic writing, it is more appropriate to use many, much, and more.

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Lots and Plenty

Lots and plenty are called quantifiers because they describe the quantity of the noun in a sentence. A lot of or lots of can signify a large measure or quantity of a noun, whereas plenty and plenty of signifies enough and more of a noun.

I have lots of peanut butter left in this jar.

This thermos can hold plenty of tea.

Lots of and plenty of are used in the above examples with the singular, uncountable nouns peanut butter and tea. However, lots and plenty can be used with plural countable nouns as well.

Lots of people learn a foreign language.

A lot of my friends live here.

People and friends are both plural countable nouns. We can count people and friends.

If used at the end of a sentence, of can be omitted from expressions using lots and plenty.

Please, no more tea for me. I have plenty.

We shouldn’t buy more peanut butter; we already have lots.

Many, Much, and More

Much is a quantifier that is used with singular uncountable nouns, whereas the quantifier many is used with plural countable nouns.

There isn’t many toner left in this cartridge.

There isn’t much toner left in this cartridge.

Much wizards use their wands incorrectly.

Many wizards use their wands incorrectly.

Leashes don’t allow dogs many freedom.

Leashes don’t allow dogs much freedom.

In these examples, toner and freedom are singular uncountable nouns, while wizards is a plural noun.

Both much and many are sometimes used with of:

Many of my friends are Canadians.

Much of his speech was complimentary.

Unlike much and many, more is a quantifier that can be used either with singular or plural nouns.

More banks allow remote check deposits these days.

More tea would be most welcome, thank you.

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