What is a word that means a lot

Similar words for a lot: abundance (noun) gob (noun) heap (noun) hunk (noun) much (noun)

What is the antonym of also?

What is the opposite of also?

otherwise dissimilarly
contrarily in reverse
inversely rather
vice versa in lieu
differently diversely

What do you mean by also?

adverb. in addition; too; besides; as well: He was thin, and he was also tall. likewise; in the same manner: Since you’re having another cup of coffee, I’ll have one also.

What is the function of also?

We use also in the normal mid position for adverbs, between the subject and main verb, or after the modal verb or first auxiliary verb, or after be as a main verb.

What too means?

Too is an adverb that can mean “excessively” or “also.” Just to be clear: two is pronounced the same as to and too, but it can’t be used instead of either of them because it’s a number.

What is in addition mean?

phrase. You use in addition when you want to mention another item connected with the subject you are discussing.

What type of word is in addition?

What is another word for in addition?

additionally besides
further furthermore
moreover addedly
also as well
into the bargain to boot

Where can you use besides?

“Besides” is also a preposition that means “in addition to” or “apart from.” It’s can also serve as an adverb that means “furthermore” or “another thing.” Example: Come and sit beside me. Your shirt is beside the closet.

What type of word is besides?

Besides is a preposition or a linking adverb. It means ‘in addition to’ or ‘also’: What other types of music do you like besides classical?.

Does Besides mean except?

Except is used to exclude something from the sentence. Besides is a preposition, which is used to include something in the sentences. Except and Besides may sound similar by meaning but one is used to exclude and another is used include something in the sentence as well as in the context.

What is the function of furthermore?

Furthermore is a useful word when you have an additional point to make in an argument or explanation. It is often used at the beginning of a sentence and followed by a comma.

What is the function of together with?

You use together with to mention someone or something else that is also involved in an action or situation. A famine started which, together with the war, carried away millions of lives.

What is the use of for example?

You use for example to introduce and emphasize something which shows that something is true. toys designed to promote the development of, for example, children’s spatial ability.

What is the function of as a result?

Answer: “As a result” is often used as a conjunctive adverbial phrase to indicate cause-and-effect relationships; in this sense, it is synonymous with “therefore,” “hence,” “consequently,” “as a consequence,” and “accordingly.” Here are some sentences in which “as a result” is used in this way.

What does for example mean?

exempli gratia

What type of word is for example?

Prepositions are usually used in front of nouns or pronouns and they show the relationship between the noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. They describe, for example, the position of something, the time when something happens, or the way in which something is done.

Table of Contents

  1. What does have a lot mean?
  2. What does it means a lot to me mean?
  3. What can I say instead of means a lot?
  4. How do you say lots of people?
  5. How do you describe a lot of work?
  6. How would you describe a hardworking person?
  7. How can I impress the interviewer?
  8. What is a good interview?
  9. What are the 4 types of interviews?
  10. What is the most common type of interview?
  11. What type of interview is best?

Similar words for a lot: abundance (noun) gob (noun) heap (noun) hunk (noun) much (noun)

What does have a lot mean?

a lot Add to list Share. Very many or very much or very often is a lot. If you like something very much, you might say, “I like it a lot, or if you have a large amount of homework, you can say, “I have a lot of homework.”

What does it means a lot to me mean?

It means that it is important to them. Usually, this is in response to something you are doing or did. Example: “Could you take care of our dog while we are away on vacation? It means a lot to me.” (translation: Please take care of my dog.

What can I say instead of means a lot?

What is another word for means a lot?

bulks large dominates
makes a difference carries some weight
means much means something
means anything has a bearing
makes any difference rates

How do you say lots of people?

Crowd, multitude, swarm, throng refer to large numbers of people.

How do you describe a lot of work?

1.) characterized by vigorous exertion, as action, efforts, life, etc.: a strenuous afternoon of hunting. 2.) demanding or requiring vigorous exertion; laborious: To think deeply is a strenuous task.

How would you describe a hardworking person?

Diligent: Someone who is diligent works very hard and very carefully. Example: For flowerbeds, a good hoe or cultivator will be a lot more labor-intensive, but probably as effective if you are diligent. Example: She was resourceful, industrious and an extremely skillful and creative cook and homemaker.

How can I impress the interviewer?

Quick Tips for Impressing Your Interviewer

  1. Practice.
  2. Wear appropriate interview attire.
  3. Don’t go into the interview without knowing anything.
  4. Get the inside scoop.
  5. Review the job posting.
  6. Check out the interviewer on LinkedIn.
  7. Go light, very light, on the perfume or cologne.
  8. Avoid sweaty palms.

What is a good interview?

What makes a good interview? Aside from the preparation that goes into interviewing potential employees, keep in mind that you should also make the interviewee feel as relaxed as possible to elicit the best response from them. A good interviewer is welcoming, conversational, and considerate.

What are the 4 types of interviews?

4 Major Types of Interview You Should Be Prepared for

  • One-on-one interview. A one-on-one interview is the most common and widely used type of interview.
  • Panel interview. A panel interview is a type of interview which is conducted between the single candidate and a panel of interviewers.
  • Group interview.
  • Lunch interview.

What is the most common type of interview?

Individual Interviewing face-to-face

What type of interview is best?

As mentioned, when the interviewer sticks to deep, specific behavioral questions for each role the candidate has held, the structured behavioral interview is by far the best predictor of successful hires because a candidate’s actual past performance is the best predictor of their future success.

a lot — перевод на русский

/ə lɒt/

That’s a lot of money.

Здесь много денег.

Lots of money, like, half my paper route money.

Много денег. Половину от того,что приносит моя точка.

Lots on the chandeliers.

Много на люстрах.

I think not a lot of people expected him.

Не думаю, что много людей догадывались, что это Джексон.

I think Gerard is kind of the main reason why there’s a lot of «evilness» in the Argent family.

Думаю Джерард как раз та причина, почему в семье Арджентов так много зла.

Показать ещё примеры для «много»…

Everybody’s got a lot to do at that hospital.

В больнице все очень заняты.

In fact, our wedding is going to be a lot like this one…

И, кстати, наша свадьба будет очень похожа на эту…

You know, a lot of people is gonna be surprised when they see me, eh, Lil?

Ты знаешь, люди очень удивляются, когда видят меня, Лил.

Oh, that’ll be a lot of fun.

— Вам там будет очень весело.

— I don’t think I can-— — lt might help him a whole lot.

— Не думаю, что смогу тебе помочь. — Ты очень можешь мне помочь.

Показать ещё примеры для «очень»…

Thanks a lot, old man.

Большое спасибо.

Thanks a lot. — Naughty, naughty.

Большое спасибо!

Thanks a lot, old man.

Большое спасибо, старина.

Thanks. Thanks a lot.

Большое спасибо!

— Oh, thanks a lot, Monte.

Большое спасибо, Монте.

Показать ещё примеры для «большое»…

You collected a lot of money to build a tabernacle.

«ы собрала кучу денег на строительство храма.

There’s been a lot of money spent on flowers tonight.

ќни сегодн€ потратили кучу денег на цветы.

I read in the papers about you winning a lot of money from that gambler.

Я прочла в газете, что вы выиграли кучу денег у этого картёжника.

My, it must be wonderful to win a lot of money like that.

Как же это должно быть здорово — выиграть вот так кучу денег.

My word’s as good as my bond… and I stand to lose a lot of dough if she don’t show up.

Мое слово дороже денег. Я потеряю кучу денег, если она уйдет.

Показать ещё примеры для «кучу»…

The situation’s a lot more nuanced than that.

Ситуация намного сложней.

Actually, I feel a lot better.

На самом деле мне намного лучше.

A lot better than havin’ a hole in your guts.

Намного лучше чем заработать дырку в брюхо.

You will see, tomorrow you will feel a lot better.

¬от увидите, завтра вам будет намного лучше.

He’s a lot nearer than that.

— Он намного ближе.

Показать ещё примеры для «намного»…

I’m sorry, there’s just something on my phone that means a lot to me.

Извини, но там действительно что-то, что значит очень много для меня.

Western Union, and they’ve got a lot of money too.

От Western Union, а у них очень много денег.

I’d had an awful lot to drink, Joan.

Я очень много выпил, Джоан.

A lot of artillery guns. Ask how many.

очень много артиллерии, пушек спроси сколько

And he earned a lot of money with his art.

Также он очень много денег заработал своим искусством.

Показать ещё примеры для «очень много»…

— I need a lot more.

Мне нужно гораздо больше.

Maybe not as thick as the ones Joshua blew down with his trumpet… but a lot safer.

Возможно, эта стена не такая могучая, как та, которую разрушил Джошуа силой звука своего горна,.. ..но точно гораздо безопаснее.

A lot cleverer than I thought he was.

Гораздо умнее, чем я думал.

I feel a lot better already.

Мне стало гораздо легче.

We were talkin’ about a lot more money than this.

Мы договаривались о гораздо большей сумме.

Показать ещё примеры для «гораздо»…

Now, we’ll take lot number 20, right at the corner of DeSota Avenue.

Мы берем лот номер 20, правый угол ДеСота Авеню.

Wrap up that lot and put some poison ivy on it. Yes, sir.

Заверните этот лот и украсьте его ядовитым плющем.

Now, we’ll take lot number 21.

Теперь, выставляем лот номер 21.

What am I offered for lot number 21?

— Что я получу за лот номер 21? — 200 долларов.

Now, we’ll take lot number 22.

Теперь, мы выставляем лот номер 22.

Показать ещё примеры для «лот»…

There are a lot of beautiful woman there.

Вокруг полно красивых девушек.

A lot of elephants in the circus.

— Правильно, слон! Их в цирке полно.

But we have lots of time to be together, and ball games don’t happen every day.

Но у нас полно времени, чтобы проводить его вместе, а бейсбольные матчи случаются не каждый день.

There’s indications in the valley, lots of indications.

В этой долине полно добрых знаков.

Показать ещё примеры для «полно»…

Say, there’s been lots of people that’s been pronounced dead that came alive again and lived for years.

Знаете ли, часто случается, что людей объявляют мертвыми, а они возвращаются к жизни и живут много лет.

I’ve won a lot of arguments with a lead pipe.

Моя грубость часто приносила мне плоды победы в спорах.

L-I’ll be thinking a lot about you.

Я буду часто думать о вас.

I guess we fought a lot, but losing a job at a time like this is something you don’t wish…

— Мы часто ругались. Но потерять сейчас работу не пожелаешь…

Показать ещё примеры для «часто»…

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Very many or very much or very often is a lot. If you like something very much, you might say, «I like it a lot, or if you have a large amount of homework, you can say, «I have a lot of homework.»

A lot is correctly written as two words, not alot. You might wonder why. One meaning of lot is «a great quantity of something.» For instance, if someone wants to bring enough cupcakes for everyone at the party, he or she might buy the whole lot, meaning every cupcake the bakery has. It’s that spirit of abundance that comes through in a lot. Just remember: «You brought a lot of cupcakes! I bet you bought the whole lot!»

DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘a lot’.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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Commonly confused words

allot / a lot

To allot is to divvy up. You might allot a few hours of your day to study for a test. The words a lot refer to a large amount. If you’re taking a hard class, you’ll need to allot a lot of hours to study!

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There is a surprising amount of confusion between these two words (one of which isn’t actually a word) and which is the correct form to appear in your sentences.

Today, I want to go over the difference between a lot vs. alot and show you a few tricks to remember which of them to use. After reading this post, you won’t ever confuse them again.

While it may be common to see the word “alot” throughout Internet commenting or text messaging, the word is never seen in print, and the reason is simple: it isn’t an actual word.

That’s right. If you go to any dictionary, you will not find the word “alot” as an entry, which makes it all the more interesting why the confusion between the two exists.

What Is a “Lot”?

are alot or a lot the same wordsThe two-word construction a lot is just that: two separate words. You have the article a and the noun lot. The word lot is defined as, “a large number or amount, a great deal.”

For example,

  • You just drank a lot of milk with dinner.
  • Your car uses a lot of gas.
  • You read a lot of books.

Just as you wouldn’t combine other instances of article + noun constructions in your sentences, adog, acat, ahorse, etc., you don’t combine the two words a lot. There’s no rhyme or reason to why people combine the words, but plenty of people make the mistake.

And no one knows exactly why. It could be that since the word lot isn’t used in many other instances besides the phrase a lot that writers began to think of alot as the actual word being used and not lot.

Other uses of lot, such as a beautiful lot of land or a parking lot, often pale in comparison to the frequency of the phrase a lot, so it’s easy to see how people could get mixed up. Even this, however, isn’t a totally convincing reason because the plural use of lot (lots) is used correctly with great frequency.

Another possible explanation is the similar features the phrase a lot has with the unrelated word allot.

When to Use Allot

Despite sounding similar to—and being spelled similar as—a lot, the single word allot is an unrelated verb. To allot something is “to give or apportion something to someone as a share.”

For example,

  • Will you please allot me my share of the inheritance?
  • The lawyer allotted the remained assets from the will.
  • During the debate, equal time will be allotted to each party.

As I said above, the fact that this word sounds alike and looks similar to a lot may cause some people to confuse the two.

Remember the Difference

allot vs alot grammarNow that we know a lot is the correct choice for our sentences, here are a few tricks to remember this fact.

Something my grade school English teacher would say to help us remember is,

  • A lot is a lot of words.

Another great trick I learned from a reader of mine is similar to the analogy I gave above about combining words like a dog into adog.

  • You cannot say “alittle,” so you cannot say “alot.”

Makes sense doesn’t it?

Summary

It’s important to keep track of these two words in your writing because alot vs. a lot are very different.

Alot is not a word.

A lot is the correct choice.

Contents

  • 1 Alot vs. A lot?
  • 2 What Is a “Lot”?
  • 3 When to Use Allot
  • 4 Remember the Difference
  • 5 Summary

We use a lot … a lot. But ask someone to define a lot and they’ll probably start by saying “A lot means … a lot!” That’s because it’s so commonly used that it can be hard to think of how to explain it.

A lot can seem like it should be a single word—and maybe one day the spelling alot will appear in this dictionary. But right now, the two-word spelling a lot is the one that’s recognized as standard. As for allot, it’s a different word altogether (even though it’s pronounced the same).

Allot some time to learn why a lot is spelled the way it is, and we promise you’ll learn a lot more along the way (including how to know whether a lot is being used as a noun or an adverb).

⚡️ Quick summary

A lot, which is often misspelled as alot, means “a large number or quantity” or “very much,” and it can be used as a noun or an adverb. Allot is a verb that means “to portion out” or “to set aside a share or portion of something, such as money or time, for a specific purpose.”

What does a lot mean?

As a noun, a lot means “a large number, quantity, or amount,” as in That’s a lot of cheese! or I only have a few hobbies, but my husband has a lot.

As an adverb, a lot means “very much” or “a great deal,” as in I love you a lot, or “often,” as in I’ve been practicing a lot. It’s used as an adverb in the phrase Thanks a lot (which is the same as saying Thanks very much).

Sometimes, it can be hard to tell whether a lot is being used as a noun or an adverb (making it hard to know what it’s supposed to mean). One way to tell is to remember that the noun use of a lot can be (and often is) paired with the word of and another noun. For example, in the sentence I had to study a lot for the test, the term a lot could refer to a lot of material, in which case it’s being used as a noun. However, if a lot is supposed to mean “often,” it’s being used as an adverb.

How much do you know about words that can mean their opposites? We have a lot to say about contronyms, so read up!

A lot is probably misspelled as alot so commonly because we tend to think of it as functioning as a single word, but it’s really a combination of two: a (the extremely common indefinite article we use all the time, as in I have a cat and a dog) and lot (which, by itself, can mean “large number or quantity” or “great deal”).

The word lots can mean the same thing as (and can be used interchangeably with) a lot, both as a noun, as in Lots of people were at the party, and as an adverb, as in I love you lots or I’ve been practicing lots. A lot is informal but very common, and lots is even more informal.

A lot is very similar to other constructions like a ton (which can be used as a synonym of a lot) and a bit (which can be thought of as the opposite of a lot). Like a lot, both terms can also function as both nouns and adverbs: a bit of cheese (noun); back up a bit so you can be in the picture (adverb).

What does allot mean?

Allot is a verb that means “to divide out something into shares or portions,” as in His estate was allotted among his heirs.

It can also mean “to dedicate or assign something, especially money or time, for a specific purpose,” as in We’re going to allot half of our budget for supplies or Please allot some time to review your work.

The noun form is allotment, which can mean the same thing as portion.

How to use a lot vs. alot vs. allot

When to use a lot: when you’re talking about a large quantity of something or want to indicate that something happens or is done often or all the time. A lot is only ever used as a noun or an adverb.

When to use alot: don’t. It’s a misspelling of a lot.

When to use allot: when you’re talking about dividing something into portions or devoting a portion of time, money, or something else to a specific purpose. Allot is only ever used as a verb.

Examples of a lot and allot used in a sentence

Check out these examples to see how a lot and allot are commonly used in a sentence (sometimes even in the same one).

  • I like a lot of toppings on my pizza.
  • I have a lot, and I believe it’s my responsibility to help people who have very little.
  • I’ve been thinking a lot about this problem, and I think I have a solution.
  • The remaining shares have been allotted between you and your sister.
  • The residents at the meeting requested that we allot more money to the park project.
  • You’ll need to allot a lot of time to count the ballots—there are almost 500.

Most of us use the phrase “a lot” frequently when referring to time or a large quantity or amount. But, some mistake the expression for a single word, writing “alot,” which is incorrect.

“A lot” is a two-word phrase, and you should always spell it as such. “A lot” spelled as a single word (alot) is incorrect. You may use it as a noun phrase or an adverbial phrase. “A” is an indefinite article, and “lot” is a noun – taken together, these two words can mean a large quantity, to a large extent, or that something occurs frequently. 

Continue reading to learn more about this phrase and how and when to use it correctly in your writing.

What Does “A Lot” Mean? 

The phrase “a lot” refers to a large number or amount of something, whether that is time, things, people, or something else (source). Something that you would refer to as “very much” or “many” you could also refer to as “a lot.”

While you may see “a lot” spelled as one word, remember that this is incorrect.

The single noun “lot” can refer to a large amount or number of people or things, very much or many of something, or it can refer to a set or group of something or “everything” (source). 

When you use the indefinite article “a” in front of “lot,” you are introducing a noun (or noun phrase) that is not specific.

The only indefinite articles in English are “a” and “an,” and you’ll use them as stand-alone words before a noun when you want to refer to something general, such as “a lot” of something.

The definite article “the” is a bit different in that it refers to something specific, so you can use it with “lot,” but when doing so, be sure that you are referring to a particular identification of something.

Below are two examples illustrating the difference between “the” and “a” when you use it with the noun “lot.”

  • “I have a lot to do tonight.”

Above, we use “a lot” to show that there is a large quantity of something the speaker will need to do, but we don’t know what it is or how much specifically.

  • “I’ll take the entire lot of tomatoes, please.”

Here, we’re using the definite article “the” because we want to communicate that we’d like the entire group (a large quantity) of something specific: tomatoes.

Note that when you use “the” with “lot,” you’ll most likely want to use another descriptive adjective like “whole” to show that you are speaking of a group of items.

Is it Grammatically Correct to Say “A lot”?

It is grammatically correct to say “a lot” when referring to a large quantity of something, so long as you spell it properly in two separate words. You can use the phrase as either an adverb or a noun phrase.

An adverb is a word that modifies an adjective, verb, or another adverb, while a noun is a person, place, thing, or idea.

If you use “a lot” as part of an adverb phrase, that means you are describing how, in what way, when, or to what extent something happens. For example, we might say, “Thanks a lot for helping me carry my groceries to the car.”

In this sense, “a lot” modifies the verb “thanks” and shows that we are offering not just a simple “thank you” but want to show the great extent of our gratitude.

You may also say, “I have a lot of shoes in my closet.” Here, “a lot” is a noun phrase because you show that you have a large quantity of an item: shoes. 

How Do You Use “A Lot”?

You can use “a lot” to show that you have a lot of something or something to a large extent, or you can use it to show that you or someone else does something frequently. Remember that spelling it as one word is a misspelling of the phrase.

We can use the phrase as either part of a noun or an adverbial phrase. Both ways are correct, so which you use depends on the construction of your sentence and what you are communicating.

For example, you might say, “I go running a lot in the spring and summer.” Here, you’re using the phrase as part of an adverb phrase because you are showing how often something occurs (frequently or often).

It matters less that you know exactly the part of speech you are using “a lot” as and more that you use (and spell) it correctly. If you can identify what you are using “a lot” to modify, it’ll be easy to determine if it is a noun or an adverb.

Here’s another example where “a lot” modifies an adjective (and therefore is part of an adverbial phrase):

  • Her haircut was a lot shorter than I expected!

Above, “a lot shorter” is an adverb phrase because “a lot” modifies the word that follows, “shorter,” which is an adjective or describing word.

When Can You Use “A Lot”?

You can use “a lot” any time you want to show a large quantity or amount of something, whether you use it as a noun or an adverb. It is not a formal phrase, however, so remember that if you are writing for a formal context, you may want to choose a synonymous term that has a more formal connotation. 

Again, “a lot” is a two-word phrase that means very often or very much. When you use the indefinite article “a” before “lot,” you refer to a singular idea. Conversely, you may also see the phrase “lots of.” This is simply the plural form of this common phrase. 

So, both of the below sentences are correct:

  • I have a lot of homework today.
  • I have lots of homework today.

The initial sentence is singular, while the second is plural. 

In the first sentence, “a” shows a large quantity of a single item: homework. In the second sentence, rather than using the indefinite article, we instead pluralized the word “lot,” writing “lots” to show that the speaker has many assignments in various homework subjects.

In What Context Can You Use “A Lot”

You can use “a lot” in quite a few contexts, but remember that it is not a formal phrase. You’ll often hear this phrase in casual conversation and informal writing, such as emails or text messages.

Later in this article, we’ll provide some ideas and examples of other phrases you can use instead of “a lot” if you wish to be more formal in tone.

While it can sometimes be challenging to know if you are using the phrase as an adverb or a noun, you can determine which one by identifying what you are pairing the phrase with. 

Often, if you pair it with another noun, you will make a noun phrase. However, if the meaning is more in line with showing that something happens frequently, you are likely using it as an adverb. 

Some everyday contexts in which you’ll hear the phrase are when you want to offer thanks or gratitude, such as “Thanks a lot,” or when you want to express that you or someone else has “a lot” of something. 

When Not to Use “A Lot”

You should avoid using “a lot” in formal writing and contexts. Further, you should never spell it as a single word – that is always incorrect.

Because the phrase is common and colloquial, it’s not appropriate in formal contexts. And, because the term is an indefinite quantifier, you should opt for more specific quantifiers in formal writing and scientific contexts.

For example, you wouldn’t want to explain a scientific process or directions in a recipe using the word “a lot” since you’ll need specific amounts in these situations.

You should also avoid the phrase if you are using it too much. Sometimes, we use common terms in our writing and tend to default to those same phrases repeatedly. 

If you are overusing the phrase, you may exchange it for a synonym that matches the formality of the context. 

Before we go over synonyms for the phrase “a lot,” let’s look at one illustration of the difference in formality:

  • The building project needed a lot of work before it would be safe.
  • The building project required an excessive amount of work before it would be safe.

While both sentences are technically and grammatically correct, the latter has a more formal connotation than the former.

What Can You Use Instead of “A Lot”?

There are quite a few synonymous words and phrases that you can use in place of “a lot,” some of which are formal and others that are less formal. Some examples include “excessive,” “enormously,” or “abundantly.” 

Below you’ll see a list of common synonyms for “a lot” (source).

Meaning: a large quantity or number

  • Plenty
  • Piles
  • Abundant
  • Loads
  • A whole heap
  • A good deal
  • A large amount

Meaning: occurring often or a great deal

  • Regularly
  • Frequently
  • Often 
  • Enormously

Below you’ll find more formal synonyms for “a lot”:

  • Excessive or Excessively
  • Several
  • Plethora
  • Numerous
  • Myriad
  • Copious/A copious amount

Using “A Lot” in a Full Sentence

As we’ve discussed, there are a few ways you can use the phrase “a lot” in a complete sentence, as long as you use it correctly as a two-word phrase.

Below you’ll find a few examples using “a lot” as part of a noun phrase:

  • I have a lot of work to do after school today.
  • She owns a lot of purses – too many to count!
  • The little girl likes a lot of sprinkles on her ice cream.

Here are sentences using “a lot” as an adverb phrase:

  • I am experiencing a lot of nervous energy right now.
  • I’ve been thinking a lot about what she said, but I still disagree.
  • She goes running a lot, so my knee often hurts. 

“Allot” Versus “A Lot”

One other word you may want to be aware of is the similar-sounding single word “allot,” which is very different from the phrase “a lot.” While the word sounds the same, it refers to dividing something into portions, whether that is time, money, or some other specific thing.

Image by Kelli Tungay via Unsplash

Here’s an example: “I’m going to allot a portion of my free time to painting, and then I’ll finish my chores.”

We use “allot” as a verb rather than a noun or adverb like the phrase “a lot.”

So, if you hear “allot,” you will need to listen to the context closely to understand its correct meaning, whether a large quantity or the action of dividing something into portions.

Adverb Phrases, Common Phrases, and Idioms

Phrases are an essential part of English conversation and writing. Some are adverb phrases, others are idioms, and some are simply ones that you may hear or use commonly.

Remember, an adverb phrase is simply a group of words functioning as an adverb, and an adverb is a word that modifies the words around it to describe how, when, or what is happening. Adverbs also often answer specific questions, including who, what, where, why, or to what extent.

The only distinction between a traditional adverb and an adverbial phrase is that the former is a single word, while the latter is more than one word. This is why we classify “a lot” as an adverb phrase.

“A lot” is a prevalent phrase you will frequently hear and use in English to explain something that often occurs or as a noun, referring to a large quantity of something.

You’ll also sometimes hear “a lot” within common idioms. Idioms are phrases with different meanings you cannot necessarily deduce from the individual words. 

This article was written for strategiesforparents.com

A typical example of an idiom with the phrase “a lot” is when someone says, “I have a lot on my plate today.”

They are not saying that they have a lot of food on their plate, but rather their day is so busy that they cannot fit any more events into their schedule.

If you’d like to learn more about common two-word phrases often misspelled, read At Least or Atleast: Is It One Word or Two?

Final Thoughts

Some words in English sound the same, but we spell them differently. Thus, knowing when a compound word is one word or two can be challenging to remember. 

You can confidently remember that “a lot” is always two words, whether you use it in a noun phrase or as an adverb.

You should never spell it as one word – unless, that is, you are using the word “allot,” which has a different meaning altogether. 

  • Вопрос

Какая разница между выражениями a lot, a lot of и lots of (много, множество) и когда нужно их использовать?

Manuel, Spain

  • Ответ

So, Manuel, a learner of English from Spain, wants to know the difference between a lot of, lots of and quite simply, a lot. The first point to make here is that English can be more or less formal and lots of is just a more conversational form of a lot of. So you could say or write:

Что ж, испанец Мануэль изучает английский язык и хочет узнать различие между a lot of, lots of и, что совсем просто, a lot. Первое, на что здесь стоит обратить внимание, — это то, что английский язык может быть более или менее формальным, и lots of является просто разговорной формой выражения a lot of. Так, вы можете сказать или написать:

There are a lot of people over there.

Там много людей.

Or you could say:

Или вы можете сказать:

There are lots of people over there.

Там много людей.

The last one’s chattier — it’s less formal. And that’s an easy way to remember it, I think.

Последний пример более разговорный – он менее официальный. И таким образом, я думаю, его легко запомнить.

Grammatically speaking, a lot of or lots of is used before a noun,

Если говорить о грамматике, то a lot of или lots of употребляются перед существительным,

There are a lot of people

Здесь много людей

or what we call a ‘noun phrase’ — a group of words that serves as a noun. Now, can you spot the noun phrase in this sentence?

или перед так называемым «составным существительным» — группой слов, которая выполняет роль существительного. Можете ли вы определить составное существительное в этом предложении?

There are a lot of Spanish people living in London.

В Лондоне живёт множество испанцев.

And the noun phrase is, Spanish people living in London: There are a lot of Spanish people living in London.

Составное существительное здесь – Spanish people living in London: В Лондоне живёт множество испанцев.

A lot, or for that matter, lots without of, is used in answers. If the question is, ‘Are there many Spanish people living in London?’ the answer will be:

A lot или просто lots без of, используется в ответах. Если вопрос такой: «Много ли испанцев живет в Лондоне?», ответ будет:

Yes, a lot.

Да, много.

Or if you want to sound chattier, more conversational:

Или, если вы хотите произнести это непринуждённее, более разговорно:

Yes, lots.

Да, много.

Things do, however, get a bit more complicated in the question and the negative. If a noun is countable, in a negative or question, we normally use many instead of a lot.

Однако с вопросами и отрицаниями дело обстоит сложнее. Если существительное исчисляемое, в отрицании или вопросе мы обычно используем many вместо a lot.

Are there many British tourists in Spain?

Много ли в Испании британских туристов?

There aren’t many Spanish tourists in Outer Mongolia.

Во Внешней Монголии немного испанских туристов.

But if a noun is uncountable — that’s a mass noun like food or money or love — we use much.

Но если существительное неисчисляемое – то есть обозначающее некоторую массу, вещество, как еда, или деньги, или любовь – мы используем much.

I haven’t got much money.

У меня немного денег.

Is there much food in the fridge?

Много ли еды в холодильнике?

To finish then, another quick test. Which of these three sentences is grammatically okay?

Чтобы подытожить, ещё один быстрый тест. Какое из этих трёх предложений грамматически верно?

a) I haven’t got much money, but I’ve got much love.
b) I’ve got much money but I haven’t got much love.
c) I haven’t got much money but I’ve got a lot of love.

And the answer is c) I haven’t got much money but I’ve got a lot of love. So if you got that, well done!

И ответ – с) У меня немного денег, но много любви (отрицание, much/утверждение, a lot of). Так что, если вы поняли это, отлично!

Susan Fearn

  • Примечание

В разделе «Английские слова и выражения» на нашем сайте вы можете познакомиться с ещё одним словом, обозначающим «много, множество, большое количество» – «shedload» или «shedloads».

Страницы:

Указатель изучаемых английских слов и словосочетаний:

A, B
C, D
E, F
G, H
I, J
K, L
M, N
O, P
Q, R
S, T
U, V
W, X
Y, Z

A lot and lots of are two expressions used in English language that should be understood in their correct senses as despite what people might think there is a difference between a lot and lots of. One should first of all understand that a lot and lots of are both different ways the noun lot is used in the English language. Both of these expressions, a lot and lots of, carry the meaning “a large number or amount; a great deal.” Also, the noun lot is used in the expression a lot and lots of as a pronoun as well as an adverb.

What does A Lot mean?

Generally, a lot is used to modify the comparative. In other words, it emphasizes the comparative. Look at the sentence given below:

He is looking a lot better now.

In this sentence, you can see that the expression a lot is used to modify the comparative, ‘better’. There is a sense of emphasis understood by the reader of this sentence. You will find that the expression ‘a lot’ is used more in the affirmative as in the sentence given below.

Johnson has given a lot of money as charity.

In this sentence, you can see that the expression a lot is used in the affirmative. It does not carry a negative sense. This is indeed an important usage of the expression a lot.

It is interesting to see that the expression a lot is also followed by the preposition ‘of’ in many cases as in the sentence given below.

David owes a lot of money to Richard.

In this sentence, you will find that the expression a lot is followed by the preposition ‘of’.

What does Lots Of mean?

On the other hand, the expression lots of is also used in the affirmative as in the sentence given below.

Ms. Janet gives lots of gifts to children.

Here again, you can see that an affirmative idea is conveyed by the usage of the expression lots of.

When used with a plural word, the expression lots of takes a plural verb with it as in the sentence given below.

Lots of flies are seen in this place.

Here you can find that the expression lots of is used with a plural word ‘flies’ and hence takes a plural verb in ‘are’. This is an important rule to learn in the case of the application of the expression lots of.

Difference Between A Lot and Lots Of

What is the difference between A Lot and Lots Of?

• Generally, a lot is used to modify the comparative. In other words, it emphasizes the comparative.

• The expression ‘a lot’ is used more in the affirmative.

• On the other hand, the expression lots of is also used in the affirmative.

• Lots is followed by the preposition of in the expression lots of. It is interesting to see that the expression a lot is also followed by the preposition ‘of’ in many cases.

• When used with a plural word, the expression lots of takes a plural verb with it.

Images Courtesy:

  1. Lots of bottled water by Brett Weinstein (CC BY-SA 2.5)

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