One phrase instead of two choices
When expressing a large quantity, English often requires you to consider the noun type first. A lot of removes the need to choose between two expressions: it works before both plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns. This makes it useful to learn early, since one phrase covers both cases.
A lot of sounds natural and neutral in affirmative sentences, both in conversation and in ordinary correspondence. It is a reliable beginner-level choice when you do not yet want to weigh every stylistic nuance.
a lot of + plural countable noun or uncountable noun
- noun —
- A word naming a person, thing or idea: student, book, happiness.
Maria has a lot of cousins.
Maria has a lot of cousins.
Cousins is a plural countable noun. The phrase before it does not change.
We drink a lot of tea at home.
We drink a lot of tea at home.
Tea is uncountable here, but the same phrase works before it. No different expression is needed.
A lot of people walk to work in this town.
A lot of people walk to work in this town.
The phrase can begin a sentence and form part of the subject. It does not appear only after a verb.
Three words that belong together
Before a stated noun, a lot of consists of three required words. A common beginner error is a lot friends: without of, the phrase cannot connect to the noun. Of is the grammatical link within this construction.
After of, the noun may stand alone or have descriptive or possessive words before it. The order stays the same: the complete quantity phrase, then any determiners and modifiers, then the noun.
a + lot + of + (determiners and modifiers) + noun
- noun —
- A word naming a person, thing or idea: student, book, happiness.
I take a lot of pictures with my old camera.
I take a lot of pictures with my old camera.
The three words appear together, followed by the noun.
Sara knows a lot of interesting stories.
Sara knows a lot of interesting stories.
The adjective interesting fits between of and the noun without disrupting the construction.
A lot of my books are still in boxes.
A lot of my books are still in boxes.
The possessive my also follows of; it does not replace it.
The noun form after the phrase
The phrase does not change the noun’s own rules. A countable noun takes the plural here: one book is a book; many books are a lot of books. A singular countable form does not express the intended number of separate items.
An uncountable noun does not acquire a plural in its uncountable meaning: a lot of work, advice, information, homework. Some words also have countable meanings. Works can refer to artistic creations, for instance, but ordinary work is work here.
My brother reads a lot of books on the train.
My brother reads a lot of books on the train.
Book becomes books: the countable noun needs its plural form.
He puts a lot of sugar in his tea.
He puts a lot of sugar in his tea.
Sugar stays without -s because it is uncountable in this use.
My new phone cost a lot of money.
My new phone cost a lot of money.
Money is uncountable in ordinary English usage. Even though it can refer to many coins or notes, keep the form money.
The verb follows the noun’s number, not lot
When a lot of + noun is the subject, the noun after of determines agreement: A lot of people are …; A lot of water is …. The word lot does not itself require a singular verb. If something else is the subject, agree with that subject: She has a lot of friends.
The same agreement with the quantity phrase applies after there: There are a lot of books; There is a lot of noise. Identify the main noun in the phrase, not simply the last word in the sentence.
a lot of + plural noun → are / come; a lot of + uncountable noun → is / comes
- noun —
- A word naming a person, thing or idea: student, book, happiness.
There are a lot of birds in the park in spring.
There are a lot of birds in the park in spring.
Birds is plural, so use there are.
There is a lot of noise in the kitchen.
There is a lot of noise in the kitchen.
Noise is uncountable, so use there is.
A lot of students walk home after school.
A lot of students walk home after school.
Students determines the number of the subject, so use walk without -s even though the phrase begins with a.
Related forms: lots of and a lot on its own
Lots of has the same meaning and also works with both noun types, but it is more conversational. It suits a message to a friend; a lot of is a safer choice in business correspondence. Notice that lots of has no initial a, while a lot of has no -s.
A lot without of can describe an action: travel a lot. It can also stand for a quantity already mentioned: How many books do you have? — A lot. Of is needed when the phrase is followed by a stated noun or pronoun: a lot of books, a lot of them.
We still have lots of time before the train leaves.
We still have lots of time before the train leaves.
This conversational alternative has the same meaning. Time is uncountable.
My sister travels a lot.
My sister travels a lot.
No noun follows a lot, so there is no of. The phrase describes the action itself.
He trains a lot, and he has a lot of medals at home.
He trains a lot, and he has a lot of medals at home.
The two uses appear together: no of when describing the action, but of is required before the noun.
Why focus on affirmative sentences?
We practise this rule where it is particularly useful: ordinary statements describing large quantities. A lot of is especially natural there and removes an unnecessary choice for the learner.
Neighbouring rules explain many and much separately. Here they appear only as a contrast: if you are unsure which of them to choose in an affirmative sentence, a lot of works with both noun types.
A lot of people order food online now.
A lot of people order food online now.
An ordinary affirmative sentence about quantity is a typical setting for this phrase.
I spend a lot of time in the library.
I spend a lot of time in the library.
Time is uncountable here, and the phrase remains unchanged.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:He knows a lot people in Kyiv.
Correct:He knows a lot of people in Kyiv.
Without of, the phrase cannot connect to the noun. All three words, a lot of, are needed.
Incorrect:I have a lot of homeworks today.
Correct:I have a lot of homework today.
Homework is uncountable, so do not add -s.
Incorrect:She takes a lot of photo every summer.
Correct:She takes a lot of photos every summer.
The countable noun takes the plural after this phrase because more than one separate item is meant.
Incorrect:A lot of my neighbours grows tomatoes.
Correct:A lot of my neighbours grow tomatoes.
The plural noun neighbours determines the verb form, not the singular word lot.
Incorrect:My father works a lot of.
Correct:My father works a lot.
No noun follows a lot, so of is unnecessary. The phrase describes the action itself.
Incorrect:We ate a lots of fruit at the picnic.
Correct:We ate a lot of fruit at the picnic.
In the version with a, lot is singular. The -s appears in conversational lots of, which has no a.