1. A lot

2. We don’t often say “I like ice cream very much”, we say “I like ice cream a lot”. DON’T say: I very like ice cream.
There’s nothing wrong with saying “very much”, it’s just in my experience that “a lot” is said a lot more. Because of Chinese grammar students often say ‘I very like…’.

3. ‘Too much/many’-only said for bad things
‘Too much/many’-only said for bad things. High school students have too much homework. He has too much stress. NOT-He has too many friends. OK-He has a lot of friends. NOT-Sarah has too much time on the weekend. OK-Sarah has a lot of time on the weekend. (These are good things.)
Students will say ‘too much’ or ‘too many’ for both good and bad things because it’s said this way in Chinese.

4. How many fish are there?
I will read the question, then I’ll have the students answer by saying “a lot of …”. After they answer I will then show them the next slide with the answer. They will catch on after you do the first one.
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5. A lot of fish
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6. How much money is this?
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7. A lot of money
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8. He has a lot of money. I want a lot of money
He has a lot of money. I want a lot of money. I don’t have a lot of money. I don’t have much money. (CANNOT say ‘I have much money’)

9. How many strawberries are there?
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10. A lot of strawberries
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11. How many clothes are there?
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12. A lot of clothes How do you say ‘clothes’?
Many, many students mistakenly say ‘clotheses’ for the plural form.
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13. How many ants are there?
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14. A lot of ants
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15. How much shopping have they done?
I point out that ‘a lot’ isn’t just used with things, nouns. I point out that it can be used with actions too.
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16. They have done a lot of shopping.
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17. How much work does she have to do?
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18. She has a lot of work.
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19. How much fun are they having?
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20. They are having a lot of fun.
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21. Negative use: don’t have a lot of… doesn’t have a lot of…

22. He doesn’t have … of time.
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23. He doesn’t have a lot of time.
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24. Ask each other the following questions
Ask each other the following questions. Say the phrase ‘a lot’ at least once every time you answer. When you answer explain why you feel that way.
You have a lot of questions to answer!

25. Would you rather have a lot of money and die at age 65 or be middle class and live fifteen years longer?
Would you rather eat a lot of meat or a lot of noodles?
Would you rather do a lot of housework or a lot of cooking?
Would you rather have a lot of money or be smart?
Would you rather eat a lot of candy or a lot of French fries?
Would you rather have a lot of money and an unhappy marriage or be middle class and have a happy marriage?
What would you do if you gained a lot of weight?
If a lot of your friends got a part-time job would you do it too?
What hobby would you do if you had a lot of extra time?
What problems are there with drinking a lot of soda?
What five things would you do if you had a lot of money?
What do you think is wrong that a lot of people do?
What do you think takes a lot of courage to do?