§ 31. The pronoun both is used as a noun pronoun and as an adjective pronoun. It is plural in meaning and applied only to two persons or things.

e.g. Two men were injured in the accident. Both are now recover- ing in hospital. I ordered only one of the two books, but now I think I'll take

both.

Dirk went up to her, and took both her hands. I made plans for the future that ignored both my parents

and my studies. I invited one of the brothers but both of them came.

Note the possible place of both in the sentence.

e.g. Both (the) men were interested in the job. Both these children are mine. These children are both mine. Both my children are boys.

Both of them agreed that the matter had better be dropped. They both accepted the invitation. They have both been invited.

§ 32. The pronouns much and many are used as noun pro- nouns and as adjective pronouns.

Much means 'a large amount'. As a noun pronoun, it takes a singular verb. As an adjective pronoun, it modifies only uncount- able nouns, e.g. Much of his life was lived inside himself.

"I don't suppose you had much to eat all day," said my mother.

You haven't much time if you want to catch the train. I hope you haven't brought much luggage.

Many means 'a large number'. As a noun pronoun, it takes a plural verb. As an adjective pronoun, it modifies only countable nouns in the plural.

e.g. There were lots of people on the beach. Many of them were

holiday- makers. "I'm marking the children's compositions." "Have you many

left?"

I haven't many friends now. You haven't made many mistakes this time.

There is a strong tendency in present-day English to use much and many, particularly when they function as adjective pronouns, only in interrogative and negative sentences and in object clauses introduced by if or whether.

e.g. I had not very much advice to give him.

I did not meet many English people who could speak foreign

languages.

Did you have much rain on your holidays? Do you know many people in London? I doubt whether there'll be much time for seeing the sights.

The train leaves at six o'clock. I wonder if many people will come to the party.

Thus He has much time, although apparently correct gram- matically, is hardly ever seen or heard in present-day English. A lot of, lots of, plenty of, a great deal of, a large number of, a good many, a great many and the like replace much and many in affirmative sentences.

e.g. There is a lot of work to do.

I know plenty of boys in other schools had achieved the same results as I had.

She knows lots of girls who go out dancing every Saturday.

He has done a great deal of research on the subject.

A large number of people were gathered at the cafe.

My mother's family had been different in a good many ways

from my father's. A great many mistakes have been made by nearly everybody.

Much and many can be used in affirmative sentences in the

following cases:

a) when they are used as the subject of the sentence, or modify it,

e.g. Much depends on what answer he will give. Much of what he says is true. Many think that the situation will improve. Much time would be saved if you planned your work properly. Many people like to spend their spare time working in their gardens.

b) when much and many are modified by adverbs of degree, e.g. so, too, as and how,

e.g. No, I won't do it. It's too much trouble.

There are too many mistakes in your exercises. You can have as much fruit as you want.

c) when much is used alone as a noun pronoun in the function of an object,

e.g. My mother meant much to me.

I would give much to know what he is thinking now.

Note. Occasionally we find such synonymous expressions of much and many as a world of, heaps of, oceans of and the like. They are used in colloquial English for emphasis, e.g. I have heaps of news. When can we talk?

Much and many change for degrees of comparison. They are more and most.

e.g. He made more progress than I had expected.

I found more letters lying on his table that morning.

He knew more about me than I thought.

Most work was done in my father's office.

Most people hold the same opinion as you do.

The most I can do for you is to give you a letter of recommendation.

Most of his money came from selling his landscapes.

Most of the delegates voted against the proposal.

Most of his relatives lived in the country.