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Jeff_999 Posted 22 years ago
Grammar

As much as?

'Female sea turtles, before laying their eggs, swim as much as 2,000 kilometers to return to the beaches where they themselves were hatched.'

I don't think 'as much as' is okey here, since 'kilometers' is countable noun. Maybe 'as long as' will help it work out here. Umm...Do I get it right?
  

Top answer

'As many as' would perhaps be better, Jeff (not 'as long as', which suggests a length of time); however, 'much' often appears in this type of situation, where the writer wishes to stress the total 'lump' quantity rather than the linear measurement.

— Mister Micawber

  • 'As many as' would perhaps be better, Jeff (not 'as long as', which suggests a length of time); however, 'much' often appears in this type of situation, where the writer wishes to stress the total 'lump' quantity rather than the linear measurement.
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4 Answers
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'As many as' would perhaps be better, Jeff (not 'as long as', which suggests a length of time); however, 'much' often appears in this type of situation, where the writer wishes to stress the total 'lump' quantity rather than the linear measurement.
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I don't completely get the picture I am afraid, Mr Micawer. Say, if it appears in Error Correction, how could I tell it from others? It'll kinda cheat us to select it as an incorrect one, if we don't fully comprehend it.
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How much do they swim? As much as 2,000 km.

How many kilometers do they swim? As many as 2,000 km.

How far do they swim? As far as 2,000 km.

I would accept any of these as grammatically correct.
However, if there are particularly pedantic test makers who figure in the situation, the first is the least "safe" of the lo
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Ohh people get used to it or what?

Well anyhow, it's much clearer now. Thank you.
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