英語中 'how much' 和 'how many' 的表達方式可能讓初學者感到困惑。但是，只要明白英語的語法規則，正確使用這些表達方式並非難事。繼續閱讀，了解以上表達方式在英語會話中的適用情況和用法。我們還會分享需要注意的常見錯誤。
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何時使用 'how many'
我們會使用 how much and how many (兩者皆譯作「多少」) 來談論事物具體或粗略的數量：
- How much aspirin shall I give the patient? (我應該為病人開多少阿士匹靈？) 400 milligrams (400 毫克)
- How many times has she been late to class? (她上課遲到過多少次？) Oh, often! (她遲到的次數可多了！)
'how much' vs 'how many'? 的使用規則
我們選擇使用 how much or how many (兩者皆譯作「多少」)，來取決於所討論的名詞屬於可數還是不可數。
當名詞可數時，我們會使用 how many:
- How many episodes of that TV show have you seen? (那個電視節目你看過多少集？)
- How many chairs do we need? (我們需要多少張椅子？)
當名詞不可數時，我們則會使用 how much:
- How much traffic was on the road? (馬路上的車流量如何？)
- How much time do we have left? (我們還有多少時間？)(雖然分鐘可以計算，但時間是無限的，因此屬不可數名詞 — 這部份稍後會詳作解釋)
much 和 many 可以組成是非問句，但不需要加入 how:
- Have you seen many episodes? (你看過很多集了嗎？)
- Was there much traffic on the road?(馬路上車流量多嗎？)
否定陳述句亦不會使用 how：
- I haven’t seen many episodes. (我看過的集數不是很多。)
- There wasn’t much traffic on the roads, (馬路上的車流量不大。)
例外情況與變體
我們可以運用 "How much is this?" 問句來詢問某物件的價格，而不需要在問題中提及金錢或貨幣。例如：
- How much was the price of your car? (你的車價格是多少？)
- How much is a plane ticket to London? (去倫敦的機票要多少錢？)
除了問句之外，我們亦可以在肯定句和否定句中使用 how much and how many：
- Affirmative:I’m sorry you didn’t get the job.I know how much it meant to you.
(這裡的 much 指的並非金錢或薪酬等名詞，而是重要程度的抽象概念。) - Negative:I’ve don’t know how many times I’ve told you to lock the door!
使用 much or many 時的常見錯誤
可數與不可數的物件
使用以上表達方式時最常見的錯誤，是將不可數的物件誤當成可數。例如：在英語中，您可以計算汽車、巴士或的士的數量，但 traffic 屬於不可數的單詞，像大海一樣沒有盡頭。在英語中，您可以計算日元、美元或英鎊等貨幣，但 money 屬於不可數的單詞。
- It depends how many money you want to spend X
- It depends how much money you want to spend ✔
- Was there much people at the concert?X
- Were there many people at the concert?✔
如果您不確定名詞是否可數，請嘗試在心裡默數。例如 “1 money, 2 monies, 3 monies...” (1 份錢、2 份錢、3 份錢......)，如果聽起來不自然，即代表該名詞不可數。如果您仍然不確定，可以查閱網上字典。
Much/many vs lots of
雖然 how much/many 適用於肯定短語，但我們通常不會使用 much or many.相反，a lot of or lots of: 的用法十分常見。
- There were many people at the picnic X
- There were lots of people at the picnic ✔
- There was much rain.X
- There was a lot of rain ✔
A lot of and lots of 均可配搭可數和不可數名詞使用，兩者並無區別，但普遍認為 lots of 偏向口語化一點。
使用 much / many 的著名例子
一 首著名的英語 傳統歌曲問道：
How much is that doggie in the window? (櫥窗裡的小狗賣多少錢？)
The one with the waggly tail (那隻搖著尾巴的小狗)
How much is that doggie in the window? (櫥窗裡的小狗賣多少錢？)
I do hope that doggie’s for sale! (真希望那隻小狗可以賣給我)
Bob Dylan 在他的歌曲《Blowin'in the Wind》中問道：
How many roads must a man walk down (一個人要走遍多少道路)
Before you call him a man? (才能稱作真正的男人？)
How many seas must a white dove sail (白鴿必須飛越多少片海洋)
Before she sleeps in the sand? (才能在沙灘上安眠？)
Mini quiz
請找出下列句子中的錯誤並加以修正。
- Was there many traffic on the road?
- How much money was your coat?
- There wasn’t much people at the beach.
- There were many children at the party.
- Does she earn many money?
答案：
- Was there much traffic on the road?
- How much was your new coat?
- There were not many people at the beach festival.
- There were lots of / a lot of children at the party.
- Does she earn much / a lot of money?