Discussion of 许多/許多 [xǔ duō] much, many, a good deal of, a lot of - Trainchinese

1 - 许多 vs 很多： 许多 / 許多 [xu3 duo1] , (adj) much, many, a good deal of, a lot of 很多 / 很多 [hen3 duo1] , (phr) many, much, a great number of, a lot 1. They are considered as different linguistic units. 许多 is an adjective, 很多 is a phrase composed of 很(adv.) and 多 (adj.) 2. Both can be used as attributive modifiers in a sentence and they are interchangeable in most cases: Examples where they are interchangeable: 很多/许多人喜欢骑自行车去旅游。 [phr] Many people like to ride a bicycle for traveling. 很多/许多学生都住在校外。 [phr] Many students are living outside the school. 我们有很多/许多年没见了。 [phr] We haven't seen each other for many year. Note that in these examples above, the meaning of 很多 and 许多 are basically the same, with 许多 emphasizing more on the actual number or quantity of something that is countable. 很多 just generally refers to the amount. Look at this example below: 请小心，路上有很多水。 [phr] Please be careful. There's a lot of water on the road. It's better to use 很多 because 水 (water) is not something that is countable. 3. Both can be used as complements of degree: Examples where they are interchangeable: 我发现他瘦了很多/许多。 [phr] I noticed that he had become much thinner. 现在她觉得安顿了很多/许多。 [phr] Now she feels much more settled down. 4. 很多 can be used as complements of quantity, and 许多 cannot. 我吃得很多。 [phr] I eat a lot. In this sentence, we cannot use 许多 to replace 很多. 5. 很多 can be used as a predicate, while 许多 cannot (predicate is the part of a sentence or clause containing a verb and stating something about the subject). Example: 这里的人很多。 [phr] There are a lot of people here. 我的朋友很多。 [phr] My friends come in great numbers. In the sentences above, we cannot use 许多 to replace 很多. 2 - In which positions do we use 许多？ 3 - What is the difference between 许多 and 很多? (xǔduō, hěnduō) 4 - How is 许多 used in a sentence? (xǔduō) 5 - When do I use 许多 instead of 少量? (xǔduō, shǎoliàng)

1 - '許多'与'很多'之辨：'許多'与'很多'为不同之语言单位。'許多'作为形容词，而'很多'则为由'很'（副词）与'多'（形容词）构成的短语。2. 二者均可用作句子中的定语修饰语，在多数情况下可以互换使用：在可互换使用的例子中，如：許多/許多人喜好騎自行車旅行。[短语]許多/許多學生皆居住於校外。[短语]吾侪許多/許多年未曾見面。值得注意的是，在上述例子中，'許多'与'很多'之意基本相同，其中'許多'更侧重於可數事物之實際數量或數量之多寡。'很多'则泛指數量。请看以下例子：請謹慎，道路上許多水。[短语]請謹慎。道路上水甚多。宜使用'很多'，因水（water）非可數之物。3. 二者均可作程度补语：在可互换使用的例子中，如：我发现他瘦許多/許多。[短语]我發現他顯得瘦許多。現在她覺得安定許多/許多。[短语]現在的她覺得更加安定。4. '很多'可用作數量補語，而'許多'則不能。我食許多。[短语]我食量甚大。在此句中，'許多'不能被'很多'所替換。5. '很多'可用作賴語，而'許多'則不能（賴語為句子或子句中含動詞並對主語進行陳述的部分）。例如：此地人很多。[短语]此處人眾。我的朋友很多。[短语]我的朋友眾多。在上述句子中，'許多'不能被'很多'所替換。2 - '許多'之使用位置。3 - '許多'與'很多'之異同。（xǔduō, hěnduō）4 - '許多'在句子中之使用方法。（xǔduō）5 - 何時應使用'許多'而非'少量'？（xǔduō, shǎoliàng）