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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
another question about much
There is not much water in the basement.
There is much water in the basement.
Is there a grammar rule that much can only be used in a positive statement? Is the second sentence wrong or just something that is not said?
There is much water in the basement.
Is there a grammar rule that much can only be used in a positive statement? Is the second sentence wrong or just something that is not said?
Top answer
No rule, really. In informal English, a lot of / lots of is preferred to much in affirmative statements (negatives and interrogatives easily accept much ). Much does appear frequently in formal affirmatives: I am much obliged .
- No rule, really.
- In informal English, a lot of / lots of is preferred to much in affirmative statements (negatives and interrogatives easily accept much ).
- Much does appear frequently in formal affirmatives: I am much obliged .
- Quirk, et al, calls much a non-assertive form, and lists it among a variety of words that simply do not commonly appear in affirmative statements.
- ) The pizzeria is far
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1 Answers
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No rule, really. In informal English, a lot of / lots of is preferred to much in affirmative statements (negatives and interrogatives easily accept much). Much does appear frequently in formal affirmatives: I am much obliged. Quirk, et al, calls much a non-assertive form, and lists it among a variety of words that simply do not commonly appear in affir
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