2021-03-01 英文写作中的“许多”

many

a large number of people or things – used in everyday English in questions and negative sentences, and after ‘too’ and ‘so’. In formal or written English, you can also use it in other sentences

• There weren’t many people at the meeting.
• Did you get many birthday presents?
• Many people voted against the proposal.

a lot

many. A lot is less formal than many and is the usual phrase to use in everyday English

• A lot of tourists visit Venice in the summer.
• The club has a lot more members now.

dozens/hundreds/thousands/millions

many – used when you cannot be exact but the number is two dozen or more, two hundred or more etc

• At least five people died and dozens more were injured in a gas explosion.
• They’ve wasted thousands of pounds on the project.

a large number of (written)

a lot of a particular type of person or thing

• China plans to build a large number of nuclear power plants.

numerous (formal)

many – used especially when saying that something has happened many times

• We’ve contacted him on numerous occasions.
• Numerous studies have shown a link between smoking and lung cancer.

countless/innumerable [only before noun]

many – used when it is impossible to count or imagine how many. Innumerable is more formal than countless

• He spent countless hours in the gym.
• They had been given innumerable warnings.

a host of

many – used especially when something seems surprising or impressive

• Age is the biggest risk factor in a host of diseases.
• People leave jobs for a whole host of reasons.

a raft of

many – used especially when talking about ideas, suggestions, changes in business or politics

• The report made a raft of recommendations.
• The new government is planning a whole raft of changes.

quite a few (especially spoken)

a fairly large number of people or things

• We’ve had quite a few problems with the software.
• I’ve met quite a few of his friends.

lots (informal)

many

• I’ve invited lots of people.
• ‘How many cats has she got?’ ‘Lots!’

tons/loads (informal)

many – a very informal use

• I’ve got tons of books.
• Have a strawberry – there are loads here.

Reference: Longman Dictionary