量Verbs and descriptions
How much
Talk about amounts and degree: not very, a lot, and few. These words have quirks that English speakers often miss.
あまり
It usually needs a negative
This show isn't very interesting.
I don't drink much alcohol.
In conversation, it's often あんまり.
Words that need a negative
These all pair with ない or ません
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| あまり | not very, not much |
| 全然 (ぜんぜん) | not at all |
| めったに | rarely |
| 決して (けっして) | never |
| 少しも (すこしも) | not one bit |
| ちっとも | not one bit, in conversation |
| さっぱり | not at all, often “I can't make head or tail of it” |
A rare exception
あまり can also mean “too much”
If you eat too much, you'll put on weight.
With an affirmative verb, it warns of an excess.
Many and few
多い and 少ない go in the predicate
Unlike “many”, they usually don't go right before a noun on their own.
This road has a lot of cars.
There's been little rain this year.
Before a noun
Use たくさん instead
A lot of people came.
A lot of people came.
たくさん also works as an adverb, and 大勢 (おおぜい) is for people only.
In careful writing
多くの and わずか
Many people agreed.
多い can't go straight before a noun, but written 多くの can.
Only a mere three people came.
Unlike 少ない, わずか can go before a noun. It stresses how little.
Careful
少ない vs. 少し
少ない says the amount is small, which is often not what you hoped: 友だちが少ない, “I have few friends.” 少し means “a little” and sounds neutral or positive: 少し分かります, “I understand a little.”
Check yourself
How much is there?
Your turn
あまり or とても?
Say it yourself
Your neighborhood
Someone asks if there are many restaurants near your place. There aren't many, and you don't eat out often anyway.
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