not + any | many | much + NOUN

In linguistics, “much” and “many” are quantifiers used to denote the degree or amount of a specific quality or item. They are used in both affirmative and negative contexts. However, their usage differs based on the context and the type of noun they modify.

“Many” is used with countable nouns, i.e., nouns that can be counted as individual items. For example, in the sentence “Not many companies can build planes,” the word “many” is used to quantify the countable noun “companies.” The use of “not many” implies that the number of companies capable of building planes is small.

“Much” is used with uncountable nouns, i.e., nouns that cannot be counted as they represent a whole or mass items. For example, in the sentence “There’s not much difference between them,” the word “much” is used to quantify the uncountable noun “difference.” The use of “not much” implies that the degree of difference between the two entities being compared is minimal.

In negative contexts, both “not much” and “not many” are used to express a lack or small amount/number of something. It’s important to note that while “much” and “many” can be used in negative sentences, their usage in affirmative sentences is less common and often limited to formal or written English.

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“Any” is used in negative sentences and questions. It can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. When used in a negative context, “any” implies the absence of something. For example, “I don’t have any apples” means I have zero apples.

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Profiling research

When grammar points in the English Grammar Profile are from the same CEFR level, and in the same category, we believe it is more useful to have a single post that covers them.  Both these A2 points come from the category of DETERMINERS/quantity.

Point 15:

‘many’ with plural nouns in negative contexts.

Point 23:

‘much’ with uncountable nouns in negative contexts.

This point clashes with a B1 point.

Not only that, they are also better summarised as points in other categories:

A2 Point 6 in the category of NEGATION is defined:

determiners ‘any’, ‘much’ and ‘many’ with nouns in negative contexts. Determiners: quantity

Finally, note that A2 point 13 in determiners also covers ‘any’.

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PELIC STUDENT EXAMPLES:

There weren’t any teachers

 that taught Arpa around my house.

Japanese female level 3 writing class.

 

I heard the thunder today,

but there was not much rain.

Arabic male level 3 grammar class.

 

If you don’t serve too many alcoholic beverages,

the guests won’t have trouble

 or face serious problems.

Turkish male level 3 writing class.

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An iWeb search for:

_XX any|many|much _NN

1 NOT MANY PEOPLE 16723
2 NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE 2658

There‘s not much difference between them.

listen

3 NOT MUCH TIME 2498
4 NOT MUCH POINT 1892
5 NOT MUCH ROOM 1838
6 NOT MUCH HELP 1343
7 NOT MUCH FUN 1316
8 NOT MUCH INFORMATION 1305
9 NOT MUCH MONEY 1052
10 NOT MANY PLACES 896
11 N’T MANY PEOPLE 875
12 NOT ANY KIND 777
13 N’T MUCH DIFFERENCE 756
14 NOT MANY THINGS 752
15 N’T MUCH TIME 748
16 N’T MUCH ROOM 693
17 N’T ANY WAY 679
18 N’T MUCH FUN 677
19 NOT MUCH CHANCE 639
20 NOT MANY COMPANIES 614

You know,

 not many companies can build missiles or aircraft.

TED

21 NOT MANY YEARS 605
22 NOT MANY PLAYERS 583
23 N’T ANY REASON 573
24 NOT MUCH SPACE 561
25 NOT MUCH INFO 530
26 NOT MANY OPTIONS 521
27 NOT MUCH REASON 517
28 N’T MUCH HELP 476
29 N’T MUCH POINT 466
30 N’T MANY PLACES 462
31 NOT ANY TIME 443
32 NOT MANY TEAMS 436
33 NOT MUCH USE 434
34 NOT MANY DAYS 428
35 NOT MUCH EVIDENCE 415
36 NOT ANY SORT 387
37 N’T ANY NEED 371
38 N’T MANY OPTIONS 366
39 NOT MUCH CHOICE 347
40 NOT MANY WOMEN 345
41 NOT MUCH LUCK 327
42 N’T MUCH INFORMATION 308
43 N’T ANY KIND 305
44 N’T MANY THINGS 305
45 NOT MANY OTHERS 298
46 NOT MUCH EFFORT 283
47 NOT MANY GAMES 275
48 NOT MUCH WORK 271
49 NOT MUCH RESEARCH 268
50 N’T ANY PROBLEMS 264
51 NOT MANY GUYS 261
52 NOT MUCH EXPERIENCE 259
53 NOT MANY MEN 255
54 NOT MUCH TRAFFIC 248
55 NOT MUCH DETAIL 242
56 NOT MANY DETAILS 239
57 N’T ANY EVIDENCE 237
58 NOT MANY FOLKS 231
59 NOT MUCH WATER 221
60 NOT MUCH ATTENTION 219
61 N’T ANY FUN 217
62 NOT MUCH VALUE 214
63 N’T ANY ROOM 213
64 N’T MUCH REASON 208
65 NOT MUCH INTEREST 208
66 N’T ANY POINT 206
67 NOT MUCH SUCCESS 203
68 NOT MUCH SENSE 201
69 N’T MUCH SPACE 198
70 NOT MUCH PROGRESS 197
71 NOT MUCH ACTION 196
72 NOT MUCH COMPETITION 192
73 N’T ANY TIME 180
74 NOT MUCH DATA 178
75 N’T ANY MONEY 176
76 N’T ANY PROBLEM 176
77 NOT ANY THING 176
78 NOT MANY TIMES 175
79 N’T ANY ISSUES 173
80 NOT MUCH VARIETY 173
81 NOT ANY WAY 171
82 N’T ANY RULES 170
83 N’T ANY SORT 168
84 N’T ANY HELP 166
85 N’T MUCH MONEY 161
86 NOT MANY JOBS 160
87 NOT MANY STUDENTS 160
88 NOT MUCH LIGHT 160
89 NOT ANY TYPE 159
90 NOT MUCH POWER 159
91 N’T ANY DIFFERENCE 155
92 NOT MUCH CHANGE 153
93 NOT MANY TOURISTS 152
94 N’T MUCH EVIDENCE 151
95 NOT MANY KIDS 151
96 NOT MUCH DEPTH 151
97 N’T MUCH USE 149
98 NOT MANY USERS 149
99 NOT MUCH ACTIVITY 147
100 NOT MANY OPPORTUNITIES 146

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A2:

activity, companies, competition, detail, details, difference, guys, information,

luck, point, reason, sort, space, teams, tourists, traffic, type, variety, way

AI wrote the following sentences using the A2 vocabulary above:

1. Not many companies can survive in such a competitive market.
2. There’s not much competition in this remote area.
3. Not many details were provided about the incident.
4. There’s not much difference between these two types of coffee beans.
5. Not many guys can pull off that sort of fashion style.
6. There’s not much information available on this obscure topic.
7. Not many tourists visit this part of the city.
8. There’s not much traffic on the roads at this hour.
9. Not many teams can compete at such a high level.
10. There’s not much space left in the storage room.
11. Not many types of birds can survive in this harsh climate.
12. There’s not much variety in their menu, it’s mostly fast food.
13. Not many ways lead to the hidden treasure.