A1 Beginner Nouns and quantifiers
How much / How many
Lesson goal. After this lesson you can ask about quantity correctly and ask about price.
When to use it
- Asking how many things: How many students are there?
- Asking how much of something: How much water do you drink?
- Asking a price: How much is this book?
Form
| Question word | Goes with | Example |
|---|---|---|
| How many | countable noun, plural | How many books do you have? |
| How much | uncountable noun | How much water do you drink? |
| How much | asking the price | How much is this bag? |
Step by step
- Look at the noun after the question word.
- Countable → use How many, and keep the noun plural.
- Uncountable → use How much, and leave the noun unchanged.
- For prices it is always How much.
Quick comparison
| Correct | Wrong | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| How many eggs? | How much eggs | egg is countable |
| How much rice? | How many rice | rice is uncountable |
| How many people? | How much people | people is countable (plural of person) |
| How much homework? | How many homework | homework is uncountable |
Examples
How many students are there in your class?
How many languages do you speak?
How many eggs do we need?
How much water do you drink every day?
How much time do we have?
How much money do you need?
How much is this T-shirt?
How much does it cost?
Common mistakes
How many water do you need? → How much water do you need?
water is uncountable, so it needs How much.
How much books are there? → How many books are there?
books is countable, so it needs How many.
How many money do you have? → How much money do you have?
You can count notes, but the word money itself is uncountable. A classic trap.
Memory tip
Remember the pair: many books — much water. If you can pick them up one by one use many; if you pour or measure it, use much.
Summary
- How many + plural countable noun.
- How much + uncountable noun, unchanged.
- Prices always use How much.
Practise this lesson
Do exercises with an explanation for every question, take mini tests and track your progress on GrammUp.