Ending a sentence with much and a lot

Question

hiya, I'm doing some grammar from Essential Grammar in Use and I'm a bit confused about ending a sentence with 'much' and 'a lot'. So far, I've figured that you end a sentences with
'a lot', when the sentence is positive (We go to the theathre a lot)
'much' and 'a lot', when the sentence is negative or it is a question (Do you listen to the radio much / a lot)

Is my reasoning correct so far?

I'm not sure if you can say
'No, not a lot.' (as an answer to Do you listent to the radio a lot?)

and
'very a lot' (I like her very a lot)
?

Philip · Accepted Answer

Do you listen to the radio a lot / much - both are fine.
No, not a lot / No, not very much. - both are fine
Very a lot - not used at all.

BillJ · Answer

Tommyekhiya, I'm doing some grammar from Essential Grammar in Use and I'm a bit confused about ending a sentence with 'much' and 'a lot'. So far, I've figured that you end a sentences with'a lot', when the sentence is positive (We go to the theathre a lot)'much' and 'a lot', when the sentence is negative or it is a question (Do you listen to the radio much / a lot)Is my reasoning correct so far?

"A lot" and "much" can be used in all three kinds of sentence, though in positives "much" requires an adverbial modifier like "very" or "so":

I enjoyed it a lot / very much. (but not *I enjoyed it much)

I do not like him a lot / much.

Do you watch TV a lot / much?

In those examples where "a lot" and "much" are interchangeable, "much" is considered by some to be more formal than "a lot".

TommyekI'm not sure if you can say 'No, not a lot.' (as an answer to Do you listent to the radio a lot?) and'very a lot' (I like her very a lot)

No, not a lot is OK, but "*very a lot" is completely impossible in any kind of sentence.

BillJ

Ending a sentence with much and a lot

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