There is not much of a change ...?

[yanx]

Hi,

What words can "there is not much of a" collocate with besides "difference", "change", or "secret",etc, as in "There is not much of a difference/change in price between the most recent two times" and "There is not much of a secret to success".

I am asking this coz I want to make sure what kinds of words can go with this type of sentence. If you can provide more words that can collocate with it, I would highly appreciate it.

Thanks!

 

[Barb_D]

Google the phrase. Post any collocations you find that you question.

 

[Raymott]

Hi,

What words can "there is not much of a" collocate with besides "difference", "change", or "secret",etc, as in "There is not much of a difference/change in price between the most recent two times" and "There is not much of a secret to success".

I am asking this because I want to make sure what kinds of words can go with this type of sentence. If you can provide more words that can collocate with it, I would highly appreciate it.

Thanks!

You can put pretty much anything there, in the right context.
"There's not much of a restaurant in this town."; "There isn't much of a fire in the fireplace."
What word do you want to put there?

 

[yanx]

Google the phrase. Post any collocations you find that you question.

Thanks for your prompt response!

But I mean whether the words that can collocate with "not much" can all go with "There is not much of a"?

For example: There is not much of a happiness/achivement/hope obtained from participating in that job.

Are the above collocations and combinations all correct? Any mistakes,please kindly point them out. Thanks very much!

 

[yanx]

You can put pretty much anything there, in the right context.
"There's not much of a restaurant in this town."; "There isn't much of a fire in the fireplace."
What word do you want to put there?

I do not know the rules, so I am asking this here just to confirm my guess.

Seems there is not much of a word that cannot be used in this sentence pattern.LOL Am I right?

 

[Raymott]

I do not know the rules, so I am asking this here just to confirm my guess.

Seems there is not much of a word that cannot be used in this sentence pattern.LOL Am I right?

No, you'd have to say, "There are not many words that cannot...." or "There isn't much of a choice of words ..."
You'd only use your original phrase when only one object is expected. That is, there is one choice, but many words.

 

[yanx]

No, you'd have to say, "There are not many words that cannot...." or "There isn't much of a choice of words ..."
You'd only use your original phrase when only one object is expected. That is, there is one choice, but many words.

Thanks very much for your detailed explanation, I understand!!!

 

[anhnha]

Hi,
I don't really understand this kind of the sentence "

There is not much of a restaurant in this town.".
Could you help me give more detail expanation about this?
Can I say it like this:
There is not much of restaurant in this town.
Is it right if I drop "a" in ​

"

There is not much of a restaurant in this town."?
Is there any difference between two following sentences?
1. There is not much of restaurant in this town.
2. There aren't many of restaurant ins this town.
Thank a lot!​

 

[Barb_D]

The sentence "There isn't much fo a restaurant in this town" is not very natural.

In any case, no, you cannot omit the "a" and no, you cannot change "much of a" to "many of."

It isn't much of a restaurant -- it's not a very good restaurant.
There aren't many restaurants -- there are a few, but not many.
There isn't much of a restaurant -- marginally okay, meaning there is a place to eat, but you probably won't remember it as a great dining experience.

 

[anhnha]

The sentence "There isn't much fo a restaurant in this town" is not very natural.

In any case, no, you cannot omit the "a" and no, you cannot change "much of a" to "many of."

It isn't much of a restaurant -- it's not a very good restaurant.
There aren't many restaurants -- there are a few, but not many.
There isn't much of a restaurant -- marginally okay, meaning there is a place to eat, but you probably won't remember it as a great dining experience.

Thank you,
That is great explanation!