plenty
pronoun /ˈplenti/
/ˈplenti/
- plenty (of something) a large amount; as much or as many as you need
- plenty of eggs/money/time
- ‘Do we need more milk?’ ‘No, there's plenty in the fridge.’
- They always gave us plenty to eat.
- We had plenty to talk about.
Grammar Point many / a lot (of) / lots (of)many / a lot (of) / lots (of)- Many is used only with countable nouns. It is used mainly in questions and negative sentences:
- Do you go to many concerts?
- How many people came to the meeting?
- I don’t go to many concerts.
- You made too many mistakes.
- In statements a lot (of) or lots (of) (informal) are much more common:
- I go to a lot of concerts.
- ‘How many shows did you see?’ ‘Lots!’
- I stayed in England for many/quite a few/ten weeks.
- I stayed in England a lot of weeks.
- Lots of people like Italian food.
- Plenty of stores stay open late.
- A lot of/lots of is still felt to be informal, especially in British English, so in formal writing it is better to use many or a large number of in statements.
Grammar Point much / a lot of / lots ofmuch / a lot of / lots of- Much is used only with uncountable nouns. It is used mainly in questions and negative sentences:
- Do you have much free time?
- How much experience have you had?
- I don’t have much free time.
- In statements a lot of or lots of (informal) is much more common:
- ‘How much (money) does she earn?
- She earns a lot of money.
- A lot of/lots of is still felt to be informal, especially in British English, so in formal writing it is better to use much, a great deal of or a large amount of.
- Very much and a lot can be used as adverbs:
- I miss my family very much.
- I miss very much my family.
- I miss my family a lot.
- Thanks a lot.
- I didn’t enjoy the film (very) much.
Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘fullness, perfection’): from Old French plente, from Latin plenitas, from plenus ‘full’.