The main idea
Many and much are quantity words. The choice depends on whether the noun is countable in the intended meaning. For example, experience overall is uncountable, while individual events someone has lived through are experiences.
Many goes with plural countable nouns (many books, many friends). Much goes with uncountable nouns (much money, much time).
Both quantifiers sound especially natural in negatives and questions. In a simple positive sentence, speakers more often use a lot of; that is a separate rule.
How many books have you read this year?
How many books have you read this year?
Books is a plural countable noun, so use many.
We don't have much space in the car.
We don't have much space in the car.
Space in the sense of available room is uncountable, so use much.
Form
When a countable noun follows many, use its plural: many days, many people, many ideas. If the noun is understood, many can stand alone: Not many.
Much combines with an uncountable meaning: much sugar, much luggage, much advice. It can also stand alone as an answer: Not much.
A typical mistake is adding -s to an uncountable noun (advices, informations), or putting many before an uncountable word.
many + plural countable noun | much + uncountable noun
- noun —
- A word naming a person, thing or idea: student, book, happiness.
There aren't many chairs in this room.
There aren't many chairs in this room.
Chairs is plural, so use many.
I haven't got much experience with this software.
I haven't got much experience with this software.
Experience here is uncountable overall experience, so use much.
Negatives
Form the negative in the usual way, and put many or much before the appropriate noun: I don’t have much time; There aren’t many seats; We haven’t received much help.
This is a very common natural context for both words: speakers regularly say I don’t have much time or We haven’t got many options.
The short negative answers Not much / Not many belong to the same pattern and are common in conversation.
She doesn't have many relatives in this country.
She doesn't have many relatives in this country.
Relatives is countable, so use many.
There isn't much traffic on Sundays.
There isn't much traffic on Sundays.
Traffic is uncountable, so use much.
Questions
A yes/no question uses the usual order for the relevant verb: Do you have much time? Are there many seats left? Simply removing not does not turn a statement into a question.
Begin a quantity question with How many + countable plural, or How much + uncountable noun. If this phrase is the subject, no additional subject is needed: How many people are coming? For an object question: How many books did you read?
Distinguish How much asking about quantity from How much asking about price (How much is this jacket?). These are different questions using the same words.
How many people are coming to the workshop?
How many people are coming to the workshop?
People is an irregular countable plural, so use many.
Do you get much sleep during exam week?
Do you get much sleep during exam week?
Sleep is an uncountable noun, so use much.
The boundary with positive sentences
In everyday positive sentences with uncountable nouns, a lot of often sounds more natural: I have a lot of money. Many is also common in positive statements, especially as part of the subject: Many people work from home.
Here we focus on questions and negatives. This is not a ban on much or many in positive statements: Much remains to be done and Many people agree are possible, for example.
So many people, too much noise and very many options are also common. Very much often strengthens an action or evaluation: I like it very much. The pattern depends on the whole sentence.
I don't think we have much choice here.
I don't think we have much choice here.
A negative is a natural context for much, even when evaluating the situation overall.
Have you made many changes to the plan?
Have you made many changes to the plan?
Changes is a countable plural; many is natural in this question.
Common mistakes and using the rule in speech
The most common mistake is confusing countability: information, advice, furniture, luggage and homework can all seem like things we can have a lot of, but grammatically they are uncountable.
Another common mistake is giving an uncountable noun an ordinary plural -s ending: advices, informations, furnitures. Learn the English noun’s countability rather than assuming every meaning forms such a plural.
When speaking, first check mentally whether one X, two X is possible in the intended meaning. If not, use much before the noun, rather than many.
We didn't receive much support from the local office.
We didn't receive much support from the local office.
Support is uncountable, so use much, rather than many.
How many mistakes did you find in the report?
How many mistakes did you find in the report?
Mistakes is countable, so use many.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:I don't have many free time.
Correct:I don't have much free time.
Free time, like time, is uncountable, so use much, rather than many.
Incorrect:I don't have many money.
Correct:I don't have much money.
Money in the ordinary meaning is uncountable, so use much here. The special forms monies/moneys exist in financial and legal writing, but are unnecessary here.
Incorrect:How much friends do you have?
Correct:How many friends do you have?
Friends can be counted (one friend, two friends), so use many.
Incorrect:Do you have many information about the flight?
Correct:Do you have much information about the flight?
Information in its ordinary meaning is uncountable, so use much information here.
Incorrect:She doesn't have much books for the course.
Correct:She doesn't have many books for the course.
Books can be counted (one book, two books), so use many.
Incorrect:I don't have many advices for you.
Correct:I don't have much advice for you.
Advice in this meaning is uncountable: much advice. Individual suggestions can be counted as pieces of advice.