Common Mistakes in English - Quantifiers

The quantifiers a lot, lots of, and a lot of are often used interchangeably in English. Study the rules for usage with this guide to these commonly used expressions. A Lot, Lots Of, A Lot Of These three expressions are used in informal English. They can mean either a great quantity of or a large number of and can be rather confusing at times. Here are the general rules for their use. A Lot Of / Lots Of These two expressions both mean a great deal of or several. They are used before a count or non-count noun. These two expressions tend to be used in informal English. Examples: We need a lot of people for this game.She likes lots of jam on her toast. A Lot Use a lot at the end of a sentence as an adverb. A lot is NOT followed by a noun. The meaning is the same as a great deal. Examples: I enjoy swimming a lot.Mary seems to travel a lot.