Con cosas que puedes contar se usa many: how many cups? Con cosas que no puedes contar se usa much: how much coffee? a lot of va con las dos.
Repaso: much, many, a lot of
How many cups do we need?
How much coffee is there?
There are a lot of cups, and there's a lot of coffee.
Not "How much cups do we need?" — say "How many cups do we need?". Las tazas se pueden contar, así que di many.
Pruébalo: Maya: How ___ plates do we need on Saturday? Wei: Ten, one for every guest. Elige lo que dice Maya. (much / many / a lot of) Respuesta: many — Los platos se pueden contar, así que Maya pregunta How many.
Al decir que no: not much, not many
Con not y en preguntas, lo normal es decir much y many: not much time, not many cars.
We don't have much time.
There aren't many cars today.
Is there much time before the bus?
Pruébalo: Wei: Is the store busy? Maya: No, there aren't ___ people. We can go now. Elige lo que dice Maya. (many / much / a few) Respuesta: many — Las personas se pueden contar, y aquí Maya dice que no, así que dice not many.
lots of (mucho, muchos)
lots of significa lo mismo que a lot of. Es más informal.
We have lots of time.
Lots of people come here on Fridays.
Pruébalo: Maya: Is there food for the guests? Wei: Yes, there's ___ food. Don't worry. Elige lo que dice Wei. (lots of / not much / many) Respuesta: lots of — Wei dice que no se preocupe, así que hay lots of food.
Unos pocos, un poco: a few, a little
a few + cosas que puedes contar significa un número pequeño: a few apples. a little + cosas que no puedes contar significa una cantidad pequeña: a little water. Antes de un adjetivo, a little significa un poco: a little cold.
I have a few questions.
Can I have a little milk?
Not "Can I have a few milk?" — say "Can I have a little milk?". La leche no se puede contar, así que di a little.
Pruébalo: Wei: The sauce needs butter. Maya: Okay. I'll put in ___ butter. We can add more later. Elige lo que dice Maya. (a lot of / a little / a few) Respuesta: a little — Pueden agregar más después, así que Maya pone una cantidad pequeña, y la mantequilla no se puede contar: a little butter.
Demasiado: too much, too many
too many y too much significan más de lo que quieres. Di too many con cosas que puedes contar y too much con cosas que no puedes contar.
There are too many cars on this street.
There's too much noise here.
Not "There are too much cars on this street." — say "There are too many cars on this street.". Los carros se pueden contar, así que di too many.
Pruébalo: Wei: Twenty people want to come to my friend's party! Maya: That's ___ people. Her apartment is so small. Elige lo que dice Maya. (too much / a few / too many) Respuesta: too many — Veinte personas en un apartamento pequeño son más de las que caben, y las personas se pueden contar: too many.
¿many, a few o much, a little?
¿Lo puedes contar, como one egg, two eggs? Di many, a few o too many. Si no lo puedes contar, como la sal, di much, a little o too much.
a few eggs, a little salt
too many eggs, too much salt
Pruébalo: Maya: What do we need for the salad? Wei: We need ___ tomatoes and ___ oil. Elige las palabras de Wei, en orden. (a little … a few / a few … a little / a few … a few) Respuesta: a few … a little — Los tomates se pueden contar, así que a few tomatoes. El aceite no se puede contar, así que a little oil.