MANY OR MUCH?

Grammar is not only verb tenses. Therefore, it is about time we talked about other issues... What about Quantifiers then?


Many and few are technically opposites:

Many expresses big quantity.      Few expresses small quantity.

The same happens with much and little:

Much expresses big quantity.      Little expresses small quantity.

Ok, but what about many and much? They can be quite confusing, I admit.


Let's take a look at these examples:

Many people are coming to Jean's birthday party.

They are not going to drink much alcohol though.


Let's zoom in a little:

many people

much alcohol


We usually use many before plural nouns: many friends, many people, many books, many problems, etc.

And much before singular nouns: much paper, much water, much juice, much gas, etc.


FUN FACT:

Many and much usually appear in negative sentences.


But what happens with the affirmative ones?


That's where a lot of and lots of step in!

Wanna practice? HERE and HERE.

Easy, isn’t it?
J.

PRESENT PERFECT OR SIMPLE PAST?

So, time to talk about one of my favorite topics! The so-called Present Perfect!


Observe these two examples:

I have lived in Europe.

I lived in Europe in 2008.

As you know, I've been living in Brazil for 8 years now, which means that I obviously do not live in Europe. What can be inferred by both sentences then? That they are about my past.


So, what's the difference? Why do we have two sentences to talk about the same thing?

I have lived in Europe. [the focus is on the activity]

I lived in Europe in 2008. [the focus is on the time]

Therefore, the Present Perfect is the past with no time.


That the PP is very flexible. And you can move it to closer past (like, five minutes ago):

I've just arrived.

Stress that something is still being expected:

She hasn't arrived yet.

Or that something has certainly happened:

I've already told you a million times, but you won't listen.


Do you find it easier now? Why don't you try it HERE and HERE then?

See you!
J.