How Much, How Many, and Very are used to describe quantity and intensity, but the way they are used depends on the type of word they modify.
How Much vs. How Many
The choice between “how much” and “how many” depends on whether the noun is countable or uncountable.
How Many is used for plural countable nouns or things you can count individually.
Examples:
How many sandwiches can you eat?
How many children are dancing?
How Much is used for uncountable nouns or mass nouns or abstract concepts that cannot be counted. We may also use “how much” to ask for the price of something, even if the item is countable.
Examples:
How much money do you need?
How much time do we have?
How much is that book? (asking for price)
Very
Very is an adverb used to intensify an adjective or another adverb. It does not modify nouns directly.
Examples:
The water is very clear.
She talks very fast.
Comparison with Much/Many
Very Many can be used before countable nouns to emphasize a large number.
Examples:
There are very many trees.
The village has very many residents.
Very Much is used for emphasis with verbs or uncountable nouns.
Examples:
She liked it very much.
There is very much snow.
Formal vs. Informal
In casual speech, “a lot of” is often used instead of “very many” or “very much”.
Summary
| Term | Used With | Example |
| How many | Plural Countable Nouns | How many pens? |
| How much | Uncountable Nouns Asking for Price | How much salt? How much is it? |
| Very | Adjectives Adverbs | My car is very expensive. She fell asleep very quickly. |