much

much [ mʌtʃ ] (comparative more [ mɔr ] ; superlative most [ moust ] ) function word, quantifier ***

Much can be used in the following ways:

as a determiner (followed by an uncountable noun):

There isn't much time left.

How much money do you have?

as a pronoun:

He didn't say much.

How much did you pay? (followed by of ):

Much of the work has already been completed.

as an adverb (with a verb or past participle):

Things haven't changed much.

A much loved member of the family. (before a comparative adjective or adverb):

The exam was much easier than I had expected.

1. ) usually in negatives or questions a large amount of something:

It's a small car that doesn't use much fuel.

I don't pretend to know much about art.

very much: It wouldn't cost very much to have your old bike repaired.

much of: Much of the evidence was gathered in 1991.

too much: We can't talk here. There's too much noise.

so much: He spent so much time with Claudia, it seemed as if they were never apart.

a ) how much used for asking or saying what the amount of something is:

How much stuff is she taking with her?

How much were the tickets? (=what did they cost?)

You know how much a parachute weighs? Twenty pounds.

b ) as much an amount equal to a particular amount of something:

I thought New York was expensive, but it costs just as much to live here in Paris.

as much (as someone/something): Why are you complaining? You have as much as Sharon.

as much something as: We didn't spend as much time at the museum as I had hoped.

as much again (=an additional amount equal to what has already been mentioned): We've already collected $20,000, but we need to raise as much again to pay for all the equipment .

half/twice etc. as much: The United States uses twice as much energy as the whole of Europe.

c ) as much as used before an amount for showing how large and surprising it is:

You can pay as much as $500,000 for a one-bedroom condo in San Francisco.

2. ) used for emphasizing that someone or something is a lot bigger, better, worse, etc.:

(very) much bigger/better/worse etc.: Richard's much happier now that he's got a permanent job.

He had married a woman very much younger than himself.

I can't walk much farther.

Advisers were urging the President to act much more aggressively.

much improved: Last year BP achieved much improved results.

a ) used for emphasizing that people, things, situations, etc. are very similar:

much the same (=almost the same): Things around here are much the same as when you left.

(very) much like: The interior of the house was much like the outside ugly and dilapidated.

She looks very much like her mother.

(pretty) much as: The trial proceeded pretty much as he expected it would.

b ) much too used for emphasizing that there is a lot more of a particular quality than you want or than is right:

The system is much too complicated.

You're driving much too fast.

3. ) usually in negatives or questions used for saying or asking whether someone does something a lot or whether something happens a lot or to a great degree:

Do you travel much?

not very much: People here don't use public transportation very much.

too much: The trouble with Jean is she talks too much.

so much: Aunt Edie laughed so much that her sides ached.

as much as: I won't be running around as much as I usually do.

how much: It's amazing how much things have changed since we first came to live here.

4. ) => NOTE used for saying whether someone feels something strongly or thinks about something a lot:

He doesn't seem to care much about the children's education.

very much: It's obvious that they love each other very much.

be (very) much concerned/aware: We are very much aware of all the risks involved in genetic engineering.

(as) much as someone loves/likes/dislikes etc.

used for saying that although someone loves, likes, dislikes, etc. someone or something, a particular fact is still true:

Much as she loved her son, she was unable to understand his choice of career.

be too much for someone

used for saying that something is too tiring, annoying, difficult, etc. for someone:

What with George's funeral and her daughter's divorce, it had all been too much for poor Elizabeth.

be very much something

used for emphasizing that a description of someone or something is very accurate or true:

We're very much a family, and we stick together.

Foxhunting had always been very much the sport of the ruling class in the U.K.

much loved/respected/admired/criticized etc.

used for describing someone or something that is loved, respected, etc. a lot or by many people:

a much loved uncle

the much criticized U.N. peacekeeping mission to Somalia

much to someone's surprise/amazement/annoyance etc.

used for saying that something happens that surprises, annoys, etc. someone a lot:

Much to my surprise, they offered me a $10,000 scholarship.

not much of a INFORMAL

used for saying that someone or something is not a very good example of something:

I'm not much of a detective, am I?

We haven't had much of a summer this year.

not/nothing much SPOKEN

used for saying that something is not very important, good, or serious:

What are you doing tomorrow? Nothing much.

There's not much to get excited about.

not so much...

used for saying that one thing or fact is true or important rather than another:

It was not so much that the work was difficult, but that it was so boring.

It's not so much Mandy I'm worried about, it's you.

not so much as or without so much as

used for emphasizing that something did not happen or exist, especially when this is surprising:

Not so much as a whisper could be heard.

She left the room without so much as a backward glance.

say/admit/think/guess as much

to say or think the same thing that has just been stated:

The city's crime problem has not been solved, and indeed the mayor has admitted as much himself.

I think your wife's in love with someone else. I'd guessed as much, he said sadly.

so much for something MAINLY SPOKEN

1. ) used for showing that you think a particular idea, statement, or activity has no value:

Another tax increase. So much for all those election promises.

2. ) used for showing that you have finished talking about something:

So much for polite introductions. It's now time to get down to business.

too much of a something (to do something)

used for saying that someone or something is too bad, good, dangerous, etc. to do something:

He'd never act on his own he's too much of a coward for that.

It was considered too much of a safety risk to transport nuclear fuel by train.

with much excitement/sadness/enthusiasm etc.

while feeling very excited, sad, enthusiastic, etc.:

The idea was greeted with much enthusiasm.

It was with much sadness that we received the news.

=> BIT1