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English · CEFR Band 1 (A1) · Chapter 12

How many books?

/haʊ ˈmeni bʊks/

How Many Books?

  1. Emma Minsu, how many books do you have?
  2. Minsu I have six book.
  3. Emma Six books — with the -s. And how many pens?
  4. Minsu I have some pens and many apples!

All My Cats

  1. Jack Minsu, how many dogs do you have?
  2. Minsu I have one dog and three cat.
  3. Jack Three cats! Are all the cats here?
  4. Minsu Yes, all my cats are here. They are good!
汉字PinyinPOSMeaning
how many /haʊ ˈmeni/ phr. how many
many /ˈmeni/ det. many
some /sʌm/ det. some
all /ɔːl/ det. all
book /bʊk/ n. book
pen /pen/ n. pen
bag /bæɡ/ n. bag
apple /ˈæpl/ n. apple
dog /dɒɡ/ n. dog
cat /kæt/ n. cat
thing /θɪŋ/ n. thing

Counting: How many...? Counting: How many...?

To ask the number of things, use "How many + plural noun?": How many books? How many dogs do you have? The noun is plural even in the question. Answer with a number + the same plural noun: Three books. Two dogs. With one, the noun is singular: one book, one dog. Remember: many languages do not change the noun, but English keeps the -s every time the count is more than one.

To ask the number of things, use "How many + plural noun?": How many books? How many dogs do you have? The noun is plural even in the question. Answer with a number + the same plural noun: Three books. Two dogs. With one, the noun is singular: one book, one dog. Remember: many languages do not change the noun, but English keeps the -s every time the count is more than one.

  • How many books? — Three books. /haʊ ˈmeni bʊks θriː bʊks/ How many books? — Three books.
  • How many dogs do you have? — I have two dogs. /haʊ ˈmeni dɒɡz duː juː hæv aɪ hæv tuː dɒɡz/ How many dogs do you have? — I have two dogs.
  • How many apples? — Some apples. /haʊ ˈmeni ˈæplz sʌm ˈæplz/ How many apples? — Some apples.
  • I have one cat and many books. /aɪ hæv wʌn kæt ænd ˈmeni bʊks/ I have one cat and many books.

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