ابو بيشو
11-06-2016, 07:29 AM
a lot of and lots of
These are rather informal. In a more formal style, we prefer a great deal of a large number of much or many. (Much and many are used mostly in questions and negative clauses - see 348.)
There is not much difference between a lot of and lots of: they are both used mainly before singular uncountable and plural nouns, and before pronouns. It is the subject, and not the form lot/lots, that makes a following verb
singular or plural. So when a lot of is used before a plural subject, the verb is plural; when lots of is used before a singular subject, the verb is singular.
A lot of time is needed to learn a language.
Lots of patience is needed, too.
A lot of my friends want to emigrate.
Lots of us think it's time for an election.
:022yb4:
These are rather informal. In a more formal style, we prefer a great deal of a large number of much or many. (Much and many are used mostly in questions and negative clauses - see 348.)
There is not much difference between a lot of and lots of: they are both used mainly before singular uncountable and plural nouns, and before pronouns. It is the subject, and not the form lot/lots, that makes a following verb
singular or plural. So when a lot of is used before a plural subject, the verb is plural; when lots of is used before a singular subject, the verb is singular.
A lot of time is needed to learn a language.
Lots of patience is needed, too.
A lot of my friends want to emigrate.
Lots of us think it's time for an election.
:022yb4: