[Grammar] I have much/ a lot of money.

[wotcha]

My grammar book says 'much' can not be used in a positive sentence to modify uncountable nouns, for example;

1. I have much money (x)
2. I have a lot of money. (o)

Then, is it safe to teach my student number 1 sentence is grammatically incorrect?
Or can I say to them it is not really matter to say 'I have much money' instead of
'I have a lot of money'?

Thx. ^^;;

 

[billmcd]

My grammar book says 'much' can not be used in a positive sentence to modify uncountable nouns, for example;
1. I have much money (x)
2. I have a lot of money. (o)

Then, is it safe to teach my student number 1 sentence is grammatically incorrect?
Or can I say to them it is not really matter to say 'I have much money' instead of
'I have a lot of money'? It depends on whether you want your students to learn and use correct grammar.

Thx. ^^;;

b.

 

[wotcha]

b.

I see. Then it is safe to say "I have much money" is grammatically incorrect.

Right?

^^;;

and... one more question !

What about "I wish I had much money"? Is it also incorrect?

 

[Raymott]

My grammar book says 'much' can not be used in a positive sentence to modify uncountable nouns, for example;

1. I have much money (x)
2. I have a lot of money. (o)

Then, is it safe to teach my student number 1 sentence is grammatically incorrect?
No, it's not. It's not ungrammatical, It's just that we tend not to use it that way.
You can say, "I have much admiration for him". I wouldn't; but some do. And you'll find it novels. If any of your students read, they'll challenge you about it.

Or can I say to them it is not really matter to say 'I have much money' instead of
'I have a lot of money'?
Sorry, I don't follow. If you're asking whether you can say it doesn't matter, then no you shouldn't say that either.

Thx. ^^;;
dn ___ -- ...-.--__...''

R.

 

[Tdol]

I agree with Raymott; it would be wrong to call it grammatically incorrect. It's collocation not grammar. And when they come across thing like However much money you have..., it may be confusing. I have much money is not wrong; it's a bit strange. You can say things like not many people had much money, which may be a bit tricky to explain to someone who has been taught that have much money is a grammatical error.

There are also forms like they had so/too/as much money that might trouble them.

 

[philo2009]

My grammar book says 'much' can not be used in a positive sentence to modify uncountable nouns, for example;

1. I have much money (x)
2. I have a lot of money. (o)

Then, is it safe to teach my student number 1 sentence is grammatically incorrect?
Or can I say to them it is not really matter to say 'I have much money' instead of
'I have a lot of money'?

Thx. ^^;;

No, it is not grammatically incorrect at all. It is simply relatively unidiomatic, particularly for conversational purposes.

 

[emsr2d2]

It would be safe to explain to them that while the use of "much" in positive sentences isn't grammatically incorrect, it's rarely used and should be avoided. However, it's important that they remember that they will come across "much" in lots of other situations and it may well be perfectly appropriate.

Examples of common use:
I haven't got much money.
He hasn't got much food.
Have you got much money on you?
Is there much food in the fridge?

Uncommon use:
I have much money.
He has much food.

The only example I can think of where it is used quite a lot is in the specific phrase "much to do", frequently along with a intensifier.

Hurry up, there's much to do.
I can't go out tonight, I have so much to do!

​

 

[Rover_KE]

You can also say

'He has too much money'.

'We have bought too much food.'

Rover

 

[Tdol]

It is also found after There is- the BNC lists 163 examples for There is much + noun, including 24 examples of there is much evidence, against 143 for There is a lot of + noun.

 

[wotcha]

I love you guys! ㅠㅜ