English lesson 1: How Much?

“How much?”

Being able to ask questions in English about quantities, time, distance and price is a valuable skill to learn. You will need to ask these types of questions everyday. For example, if you wanted to know the quantity of how much food someone bought at the store you will need to know how to answer properly. Or if you want to drive to from Los Angeles to Las Vegas you need to be able to ask how much time it takes to travel. You may also need to ask and answer about the distance. When you get to Las Vegas there are great shops so you will also need to know how to talk about how much something costs and prices. There are some important words you need to learn regarding this subject. First, the words, “many/a few” and “much/a little” are important words you should know. “Many/a few” is used with plural nouns as in “She has many friends” or “He makes few mistakes.” “Much/a little” is used with non-countable nouns as in “He doesn’t drink much milk” or “She put a little gas in her car.” These words are good to know but one easy shortcut is the word, “a lot” instead of “many/much.” It works for both situations and you don’t have to remember the confusing rules. Let’s look at some examples below.

Key words:
How much
How often
How far
How long
How many
A lot of customers
Many envelopes
Not much time
A few questions
A little blood

Here are some situational examples:
Example: Two friends
(Casual):
w How long is it to Las Vegas from LA?
u About four hours by car.

Example: Two co-workers
(Everyday)
w How many Personal Days do we get per year?
u Not a lot.

Example: Boss to manager
(Formal):
w There is a little blood on your face.
u I must have cut myself shaving this morning.