Grammar · Articles & Determiners
Quantifiers (Most, Many, A Lot Of)
Many critics, much money, a lot of fans, most families. Words for amounts without exact numbers, with the film The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
Grammar › Articles & Determiners › Quantifiers (Most, Many, A Lot Of)
The rule in one sentenceQuantifiers say how much without a number: use many with things you can count (many fans), much with things you cannot count (much money), a lot of with both, and most for the biggest part (most families).
About the film
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is an animated film from 2026. It starts with a birthday party for Princess Peach in the Mushroom Kingdom. But Bowser’s son has a plan, and soon Rosalina, who looks after the stars, is in trouble. So Mario, Luigi, Toad and Peach travel from galaxy to galaxy to help her. There are strange planets, floating islands, and a lot of jumping in low gravity. Many critics did not like the film very much. But most families loved it, and it made much more money than anyone expected.
What does it do?
Quantifiers are words for amounts. They do not give a number. They give an idea: a small amount, a big amount, or the biggest part.
The first question is always: can you count the thing? many goes with things you can count one by one: fans, films, stars. much goes with things you cannot count: money, time, music. a lot of is the easy one. It works with both.
Look at the first two tiles. You can count children: one child, two children. You cannot count money in the same way: not “one money, two moneys”. That is the whole difference.
Two more useful words. They work with both kinds of noun:
Most children loved the film. Most of the children at my school loved the film.
“Most” alone is general. “Most of the” points to one specific group.
Visual guide
Teacher Teddy’s illustrated guide to this rule is being drawn — the full swipe-through infographic will appear here soon.
How to make it
many — things you can count
Mario visits many different galaxies.
There aren’t many quiet moments in the film.
not many + plural nounHow many planets do they visit?
How many + plural noun?much — things you can’t count
The film made much more money than expected.
much + more / lessToad doesn’t have much time to be afraid.
not much + uncountable nounHow much money did it make?
How much + uncountable noun?When to use each one
many and a lot of
much and most
Words that help: can you count it?
Look at the noun. If you can put a number in front of it, it is countable.
many → countable nouns
much → uncountable nouns
Common mistakes
❌ The film didn’t get much good reviews.
✅ The film didn’t get many good reviews.
You can count reviews, so use “many”.
❌ Most of critics didn’t like it.
✅ Most critics didn’t like it.
Use “most” alone, or “most of the critics”. Never “most of critics”.
❌ There are a lot of money in this film.
✅ There is a lot of money in this film.
“Money” is uncountable, so the verb is “is”.
❌ How many time does the film last?
✅ How much time does the film last?
“Time” here is uncountable, so use “much”.
One more thing
This part is a little harder. You can come back to it later.
In positive sentences, “a lot of” sounds more natural than “many” or “much”.
✅ I have a lot of time today. (natural)
✅ I don’t have much time today. (natural in a negative)
“I have much time” is correct but sounds strange. Keep “much” and “many” for questions and negatives.
Practice: choose the right word
Eight questions. Choose one answer. You get the answer, and why.
1. The film didn’t get ___ good reviews.
You can count reviews → many.
2. How ___ money did it make?
You cannot count money → much.
3. ___ families gave the film a very high score.
General, no specific group → Most.
4. ___ the children in my class have seen it.
A specific group with “the” → Most of.
5. There ___ a lot of action in space.
“Action” is uncountable → is.
6. A lot of fans ___ waiting outside the cinema.
“Fans” is plural → are.
7. How ___ planets do Mario and Luigi visit?
You can count planets → many.
8. Toad doesn’t have ___ time to be afraid.
You cannot count time → much.
Your turn
Choose one ending. Then listen to your sentence.
Every sentence here is correct. Pick the one that is true for you. Say it out loud too!
Keep going
This film’s lesson
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Now hear it in the film
You have just learned quantifiers with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Now hear the whole film explained in English.
The full listening episode on the same film — a slow, clear movie review with the language used in real speech, and a free transcript.
BeginnerEpisode 04Watch on YouTube