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a lot of / lots of / a lot

a lot of and lots of , have the same basic meaning: a


great deal of, and are colloquial (i.e., informal)
BUT they are Standard English and acceptable.

In formal writing, use a great deal of' or 'many', with


plural countable nouns, and 'a great deal of' or 'much',
with uncountable nouns :

There's no rule on usage: Both a lot of and lots of are


used with plural countable nouns and uncountable
nouns, like this,

Plural Countable Noun


There are a great deal of books in your bag.
A great deal of books are in your bag.

Plural Countable Noun


There are a lot of books in your bag. (OK)
There are lots of books in you bag. (OK)

Uncountable Noun
There is a great deal of milk left in your glass.
A great deal of milk is left in your glass.

Uncountable Noun
There is a lot of milk left in your glass. (OK)
There is lots of milk left in your glass. (OK)
The verb agrees in number with the noun: if the noun
is plural then the verb is plural,

If the noun is not plural, then the verb is not plural.


A lot of milk was/were left on the table.
Lots of milk was/were left on the table.

A Lot
Select the correct
option

A lot of books was/were left on the table.


Lots of books was/were left on the table.

Use a lot at the end of a sentence/phrase as an


adverb. A lot is NOT followed by a noun. The
meaning is the same as a great deal.
Examples:
Mary seems to travel a lot.
I enjoy swimming a lot in the summer.

Exercise
1.

Simon ______________________________________ books on the table. (to have left)

2.

There ______________________________________ snow on the mountains. (be)

3.

There ______________________________________ leaves on the road. (be)

4.

They ______________________________________ stickers on their car. (have)

5.

Peter ______________________________________. (to like reading)

TEACHERS NOTES
a lot of / lots of / a lot
a lot of and lots of , have the same basic meaning: a
great deal of, and are colloquial (i.e., informal)
BUT they are Standard English and acceptable.

In formal writing, use a great deal of' or 'many', with


plural countable nouns, and 'a great deal of' or 'much',
with uncountable nouns :

There's no rule on usage: Both a lot of and lots of are


used with plural countable nouns and uncountable
nouns, like this,

Plural Countable Noun


There are a great deal of books in your bag.
A great deal of books are in your bag.

Plural Countable Noun


There are a lot of books in your bag. (OK)
There are lots of books in you bag. (OK)

Uncountable Noun
There is a great deal of milk left in your glass.
A great deal of milk is left in your glass.

Uncountable Noun
There is a lot of milk left in your glass. (OK)
There is lots of milk left in your glass. (OK)
The verb agrees in number with the noun: if the noun
is plural then the verb is plural,

A lot of milk was/were left on the table.


Lots of milk was/were left on the table.

option

If the noun is not plural, then the verb is not plural.

A Lot
Select the correct

A lot of books was/were left on the table.


Lots of books was/were left on the table.

Use a lot at the end of a sentence/phrase as an


adverb. A lot is NOT followed by a noun. The
meaning is the same as a great deal.
Examples:
Mary seems to travel a lot.
I enjoy swimming a lot in the summer.

Exercise
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Simon has left lots of / a lot of / a great deal of books on the table.
There is
lots of / a lot of / a great deal of
snow on the mountains.
There are lots of / a lot of / a great deal of leaves on the road.
They have lots of / a lot of / a great deal of stickers on their car.
Peter likes reading a lot.

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