こんにちは、脳ジムの江村です。
今回はCharlotte先生の英会話コラムをお届けします。
日本語にはないルールで英語学習者を悩ませる英文法のひとつ「可算名詞、不可算名詞」Countable nouns and non-countable nouns
今日は、ブログスタイルでCharlotte先生がわかりやすく、たのしく解説してくれます。
それでは早速はじめましょう。
Let’s get started!
Hello everyone,
Hope you are all doing well!
This is Charlotte.
Today we will have a look at a commonly made mistake among English learners:
Usage of ‘much’ vs ‘many’
These two buddies might look very similar, but the usage is different.
Let’s have a look at some of the main differences.
Countable and non-countable nouns
For students level 1 and level 2
| MUCH | MANY |
| – non-count nouns (for example: food)
– mostly used in questions and negative sentences |
– count nouns (for example: snacks)
– mostly used in questions and negative sentences |
| Question:
“How much food is in the refrigerator?”
Negative sentence: “There isn’t much food in the refrigerator.” |
Question:
“How many snacks are there in the refrigerator?”
Negative sentence: “There aren’t many snacks in the refrigerator.” |
Much and many, Some, several, a lot of
For students level 3 and up
| MUCH | MANY |
| – noncount nouns (for example: food)
– positive statement to express ‘some’ or ‘a lot of’ – mostly used in scholarly context (written) |
– count nouns (for example: snacks)
– positive statement to express ‘several’ or ‘a lot of’ – mostly used in scholarly context (written) |
| There’s much food in the refrigerator.
There’s a lot of food in the refrigerator.
There’s some food in the refrigerator. (= not a lot, but enough)
Much food can be preserved in the refrigerator. (scholarly, written context) |
There are many snacks in the refrigerator.
There are a lot of snacks in the refrigerator.
There are several snacks in the refrigerator. (= not a lot, but enough)
Many snacks have high amounts of sugar. (scholarly, written context) |
As you might know, I learned a lot through English music, so I found two songs that use ‘much’ and ‘many’ in them!
Queen – Too Much Love Will Kill You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL9h1SD_2FA
‘Love’ is a non-count noun (luckily!) so ‘much love’ is being used.
K’s Choice – Too Many Happy Faces
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=get2CYsjcPw
K’s Choice is one of my favorite Belgian bands! Please have a look at their other songs if you can.
‘Faces’ is a count noun, so ‘many (happy) faces’ is being used.
As you noticed, ‘much’ and ‘many’ is often used together with ‘too’: too much, too many.
My mother always used to say:
‘Too much of anything is never good. Always try and maintain a healthy balance in everything.’*
Do you agree?
Have a lovely day! See you soon,
Charlotte
というわけで洋楽からも学べる可算名詞と不可算名詞をブログスタイルでお送りしました！
可算か不可算かは、考えるよりむしろ音楽やフレーズまるごとで学ぶ方がいいかもしれませんね。
今日も最後までお読みいただきありがとうございました♪
〈注〉*「何事も過ぎたるは猶及ばざるが如し」
