dragn
Joined: 17 Feb 2009
Posts: 450
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 Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 8:58 am Post subject: |
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What's the difference between "up to" and "as many as"?
Which one can I put in the following sentence?
The students are allowed ____ two hours to finish the test. |
In this sentence, up to would be the normal thing to say. Two hours is the limit; they can't take any longer.
The phrase up to should be used in a situation involving a limit of some kind. If something can be up to some number or amount, it cannot be more than that. For example:
You can check up to two pieces of luggage free of charge.
(Two is the limit; the third bag will cost you!)
In a situation where you are talking about a maximum number or amount of something that exists or occurs, either phrase might be used. For example:
Tony exercises up to / as many as five days a week.
It could be three; it could be four. Sometimes it's five, but not more than that. That's the maximum. It's not a limit that cannot be exceeded: there's no law that says Tony can't exercise six times a week. However, he just doesn't.
If there is a limit that cannot be exceeded, however, we normally use up to rather than as many as.
Hope this helps.
Greg |
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