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Question

Hello,

A friend of mine asks me about below :

" Thank you very much. "

I think this expression seems to be from "Thank you much."

However I have never heard about "Thank you much."

" Thank you much." is possible?

If not, is there any special reason ?

Curious,

TasmanTiger

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I've never heard 'Thank you much', althiugh I suppose it's possible. It might even be something that was said in some earlier era.

But it sounds odd and unnatural to my ear.

Clive

Avangi · Answer

TasmanTigerThank you very much. "
I think this expression seems to be from "Thank you much.It's the other way around.

"Thank you much" is from "Thank you very much." It's very casual. (I use it myself.)
You can lump it with "Thanks a million," "Thanks a lot," "Many thanks!," "Thanks!" etc.

I think the only formal ones are "Thank you," and "Thank you very much." - A.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

We also say 'Many thanks'.

Clive

CalifJim · Answer

TasmanTiger" Thank you much." is possible?
If not, is there any special reason ?

I think there is a reason. Here's a tentative theory of the grammar of "much". Others may have further insights to add.

The adverb much is only "non-assertive", i.e., it's used by itself only in questions and negations. a lot is the assertive form.

*I like it much becomes I like it a lot.
*I swim much becomes I swim a lot.
*It worried me much becomes It worried me a lot.
*He shouted much becomes He shouted a lot.

But it's used in assertions if supported by very and if the verb is not an action verb. very much is not often used with an action verb.

I like it very much.
?I swim very much. -- not an action verb.
It worried me very much.
?He shouted very much. -- not an action verb.

Even in questions and especially in negations it's usually supported by very.

Do you like it much? / Do you like it very much?

I don't like it much. / I don't like it very much.
Do you swim much? / Do you swim very much?
I don't swim much. / I don't swim very much.
Does it worry you much? / Does it worry you very much?
It doesn't worry me much. / It doesn't worry me very much.
Did he shout much? / Did he shout very much?
He didn't shout much. / He didn't shout very much.
_____________

From the discussion above, you can conclude that these are possible:

Thank you a lot. / Thank you very much. / I appreciate it a lot. / I appreciate it very much.

And these are not possible:

Thank you much. / I appreciate it much.

But, strangely, with the standard formula for thanking someone, Thank you a lot is rarely used, if at all. It is nearly always rendered as Thanks a lot.

The grammar of "thank you" is unique.

CJ

TasmanTiger · Answer

This presentation is beautiful!

I came to understand "Thank you" philosophy.

"Thank you" has many grammatical things!

English can be called a subject of philosphy.

Thank you very much , CJ. and Clive and Avangi.

TasmanTiger

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