Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Wisco Kid]

The Korean teachers at my school seem to use the word "much" way too much.

In the following sentence, "much" seems out of place to me. Is it gramatically correct?

Father has to spend much money.


If I were to rewrite it, I'd say "Father has to spend a lot of money".

However, the negative form sounds correct: "father doesn't have to spend much money".

[Hagwon Muppet]

Yeah its a hangover from direct translation of the Korean 'manhi' I think. If any kid uses it beat them until the neurons that control the 'much' response curl up and die.

Then go drink soju until the neurons that control your 'sense of shame about beating kids' response float out your left ear!

[Wisco Kid]

I've never heard any kids use it, only the Korean teachers and director.

[kimchikowboy]

I think they learn "much" and "money" together as a cluster. My uni students do it, too.
Problem is we generally don't use much in positive statements. It's used primarily in questions (Do you have much money) and negative statements (I don't have much money). For positive statements using uncountable nouns, we generally use "a lot."
An exception is when we use a modifier, like: I like her very much.

[ghostshadow]

I guess they have to re-educate them on grammer-

Many is used with plural countable nouns and
Much is used with uncountable nouns

[J.B. Clamence]

[thorin]

[phaedrus]

[Wisco Kid]

"How much do you want to bet?"

but

"How many dollars do you want to bet?"



"I like her very much" = OK

"I like her much" =

[Manner of Speaking]

[Zed]