A lot-lots of/help

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A lot-lots of/help
Message from maessie posted on 26-11-2017 at 21:56:40 (D | E | F)
Hello everybody!
I'm glad I found this site, please can someone explain to me the difference between "a lot" and "lots of"? Or can both phrases be used interchangeably?
E.g:
a lot of wine.
lots of wine.
Thanks for your replies.

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Edited by lucile83 on 26-11-2017 23:06

Re: A lot-lots of/help from gerondif, posted on 27-11-2017 at 00:30:03 (D | E)
Hello
a lot of is correct English and can be used with either a singular or a plural noun.
I have a lot of money, I have a lot of friends.
Lots of is more colloquial, should be used with a plural noun but is also used with a singular noun in informal English:
He has lots of friends. He drinks lots of beer.

In classical grammar, they used to say that many + plural ou much + singular were used in interrogative or negative sentences and that a lot of would replace many or much in affirmative sentences.
Do you have many friends ?
Yes, I have a lot of friends.
No, I don't have many friends.

Does he drink much beer ?
Yes, he drinks a lot of beer.
No, he doesn't drink much beer.

BUT a lot of is correct in all these sentences in less formal English.
Another difference: He drinks a lot of wine is just factual. "He drinks plenty of wine, lots of wine" is more a judgment. "Lots of wine" would imply a greater quantity than "a lot of wine", and maybe some disapproval.

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