quantifier much or many

Question

Please, could you tell me why is much and no many in the fallow sentence?

Mr President, do you believe much of your proposed legislation will be passed by Congress during this session?

thanks

A little help with your sentence. "and not many in the following". - Leatha, Mar 12, 2011

Yes use"much" because the legislation is un-countable. - ian-hill, Mar 12, 2011

thanks Jan-hill - maylegoas, Mar 12, 2011

Answer 1

Hello. Nouns in English are often split into the categories of countable and uncountable. Countable nouns usually refer to objects or things that can be counted as individual objects (for example, one apple, two apples, three apples, etc.). With countable nouns you use the quantifier many. You cannot use much.

Other nouns refer to things or concepts that can't be counted as individual units: music, liberty, freedom, art, information, or luggage. These uncountable nouns use the modifier much. Legislation is an uncountable noun.

I hope that helps!

I don't think I agree with you on this one, Chris. - Leatha, Mar 12, 2011

thanks chris 126 - maylegoas, Mar 12, 2011

La respuesta de chris me ayudó bastante, ya entendí. Gracias - maylegoas, Mar 12, 2011

You are welcome. Glad it helped. - chris126, Mar 13, 2011

Answer 2

For one thing, much refers to part of a whole and is singular. "much of the cake was eaten during the party". Many is several individual parts, and plural. "many pieces of cake were eaten during the party". The sentence you ask about refers to all the President's proposals as a whole. It could be rewritten as,"many of your legislated proposals will be passed".

Leatha, I think we agree. :-) As you indicate, uncoutable nouns can be preceeded by phrases such as "a piece of making them "countable." Then, of course, "many" would be used. - chris126, Mar 13, 2011

Answer 3

Think of those as:

much = mucho - mucha

many = varios/muchos- muchas

Does it help?