Much/Most of her life

[cannonkuo]

Any difference between the following two sentences?
1. Much of her life was spent doing business in Europe.
2. Most of her life was spent doing business in Europe.

 

[tedmc]

I think "most" is more than "much".

 

[SoothingDave]

"Most" means 50%+, a majority of her life.

 

[Tarheel]

Any difference between the following two sentences?
1. Much of her life was spent doing business in Europe.
2. Most of her life was spent doing business in Europe.

In the first one "much" might mean as little as 25%. In other words, it's indefinite. It's whatever the speaker thinks is a good deal of the time.

The second one would have to be at least half the time but possibly a good deal more than that.

 

[Kontol]

The second one would have to be at least half the time but possibly a good deal more than that.

Hello, Tarheel. I usually say "have to", but you add "would" in "have to" in your sentence. Why is "would" used?

 

[Tarheel]

Hello, Tarheel. I usually say "have to", but you add "would" in "have to" in your sentence. Why is "would" used?

Well, "have to" wouldn't make sense without "would". I suppose I could say " should be" instead.

As a native speaker I understand the "rules" implicitly and not explicitly. So "why" questions can be hard to answer.