We usemuch, a lot, lotsanda good dealas adverbs to refer to frequency, quantity and degree.
Much
We usemuchin questions and negative clauses to talk about degrees of something. We put it in end position:
I don’t like the seamuch.
We don’t usemuchin affirmative clauses:
I hadn’t seen my mother for a month. I’d missed hera lot.
Not: …I’d missed her much.
In informal styles, we often usemuchin questions and negative clauses to mean ‘very often’:
Do you see Petermuch?
I haven’t played tennismuchthis year.
In formal styles, we usemuchas an intensifier meaning ‘really’ with verbs that express likes and dislikes:
Hemuchenjoyed his week in the 5-star hotel.
Thank you for your help. It wasmuchappreciated.
Very much
We often usevery muchas an intensifier in affirmative and negative clauses and questions:
[in a formal letter]
Please find attached my report. Ivery muchwelcome your comments.
Is shevery muchlike her father?
With the verblikewe don’t putvery muchbetween the verb and its object:
I like comedy filmsvery much.
Not:I like very much comedy films.
Too much, so much
We often usetoo muchto mean an excessive amount, ‘more than enough’:
He talkstoo much.
You worrytoo much.
We can also useso muchto mean‘to a large degree’ or ‘a large amount’ or ‘a lot’:
She’s changedso much. I hardly recognised her.
I’ve eatenso much.
See also:
Too
So
A lot,a good dealanda great deal
We can usea lot,a good dealanda great dealas adverbs offrequency, quantity or degree:
A:Have you ever been to Brosh?
B:Actually we go therea lot.
I’m really hungry now. I didn’t havea lotfor breakfast.
A good dealanda great dealare more formal thana lot.
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