Much, many, little, few, a lot, plenty

(a) Much many few little

Much и little употребляются с неисчисляемыми существительными:

much time much luck little energy little money

Many и few употребляются с исчисляемыми существительными:

many friends many people few cars few countries

(b) A lot (of) lots (of) plenty (of)

A lot of / lots of / plenty of употребляются с неисчисляемыми существительными и существительными во множественном числе:

a lot of milk lots of time plenty of money

a lot of students lots of shops plenty of ideas

Plenty часто используется в значении 'более чем достаточно':

- `Have some more coffee.' `No, thank you. I've had plenty.'

- There's no need to worry. We've got plenty of money.

с) Much и many употребляются, в основном, в отрицательных предложениях и в вопросах:

- We didn't waste much time.

- Have you written many poems?

В утвердительных предложениях лучше употреблять a lot (of) вместо much :

- We wasted a lot of food. (а не `we wasted much food')

- There has been a lot of rain recently. (а не `much rain')

Однако too much и so much употребляются в утвердительных предложениях:

- She won't drink this coffee. There's too much sugar in it.

- There was so much sugar in the coffee that she could't drink it.

(d) Little / a little few / a few

Little и few (без артикля a) придают характеру действия негативный оттенок:

- Ask Tom to take a car. We've got little time.

(= немного, недостаточно времени)

- He's not friendly. He has few friends.

(=немного, недостаточно друзей)

Запомните усилительные формы very little и very few :

- We've got very little butter.

- He has very few clothes.

only a little и only a few имеют отрицательное значение:

- Say that you'll call him later. We've only got a little time.

- The beach was empty. There were only a few swimmers.

A little и a few показывают более позитивное отношение к небольшому количеству или числу:

- Let's go and see the town. We've got a little time before the train leaves.

(=немного времени, но достаточно чтобы посмотреть город)

- `Have you got any salt?' `Yes, a little. Do you want me to give you some?'

(a little = not much but enough for you to borrow some)

- I enjoy my life here. I have a few friends and we meet quite often.

(a few friends = not many but enough to have a good time)

- `When did he phone you last?' `A few days ago.' (= some days ago)