many
‘many’ used in front of a plural noun
You use many immediately in front of the plural form of a noun to talk about a large number of people or things.
Many young people worry about their weight.
Her music is popular in many countries.
In positive statements, ‘many’ is slightly formal, and a lot of is often used instead.
A lot of people agree with this view.
➜ See lot
In questions and negative statements, many is usually used rather than ‘a lot of’.
Do many people in your country speak English?
There are not many books in the library.
‘many of’
To refer to a large number of the people or things in a particular group, you use many of in front of a plural pronoun, or in front of a plural noun phrase beginning with the, these, those, or a possessive such as my or their.
Many of them were forced to leave their homes.
Many of the plants had been killed by cold weather.
Many of his books are still available.
‘many’ used as a pronoun
Many is sometimes used as a pronoun to refer to a large group of people or things. This is a fairly formal use.
Many have asked themselves whether this was the right thing to do.
Be careful
Don't use ‘many’ or ‘many of’ before an uncountable noun, to talk about a large quantity or amount of something. Use much or much of.
Don't use ‘many’ or ‘many of’ before an uncountable noun, to talk about a large quantity or amount of something. Use much or much of.
➜ See much
‘many more’
You can use many with more to emphasize the difference in size between two groups of people or things.
I have many more friends here than I did in my home town.
We have had many more problems recently than before.