#336: English Conversations on How Much and How Many | Advanced Vocabulary

Every day, multiple times a day, you need to describe how much or how many—whether it’s talking about your workload, estimating how long something will take, or planning for an event.

But if you only rely on basic words like “some” or “a lot,” your English might feel repetitive or vague.

Examples:

• I have some work to do.
• There were a lot of people at the event.

These sentences work, but they lack precision and variety—and that can make your English sound basic and unclear.

In this lesson, you’ll learn natural expressions English speakers use every day to describe quantities with clarity and confidence. These will help you sound more fluent, expressive, and natural in conversations.

After you watch, you’ll be able to: 

• Avoid sounding repetitive and expand your vocabulary
• Speak with more confidence in professional and casual conversations
• Communicate clearly in any situation—from business discussions to everyday chats

Everyday Expressions for Small and Large Amounts

Instead of overusing “some” or “a lot,” try these natural alternatives:

• A couple of – Two, or close to two
  • Example: You have a couple of minutes before the meeting starts.
• A few – Three to four
  • Example: I have a few questions about the project.
• Several – More than a few, but not a large number (usually 3-7)
  • Example: There are several new members in our team.
• A bunch of – Informal way to say “a lot of”
  • Example: We bought a bunch of snacks for the party.
• A handful of – A small number, like what fits in your hand
  • Example: Only a handful of people showed up to the meeting.

Practice: Think of a situation where you usually say “some” or “a lot.” How could you rephrase it using one of these expressions?

Estimating Numbers Naturally

When people ask “How many people were there?” or “How long will that take?”, they usually don’t need an exact number. In casual conversations, sounding too precise can feel unnatural.

Instead, use these expressions:

• Around / About – Close to the number, but not exact
  • Example: The restaurant can seat around 50 people.
• Roughly / Approximately – Slightly more formal than “about”
  • Example: There are roughly 10,000 employees in the company.
• -ish – Informal way to say “approximately”
  • Example: Let’s meet at 7-ish.
• Or so – Means “approximately that amount”
  • Example: We need a pound or so of flour for the cake.

Practice: How long is your commute? Try answering using one of these estimation expressions.

Specific Numbers for Precision

Some situations require exact numbers—when ordering food, giving measurements, or discussing facts.

• A dozen – Exactly 12
  • Example: I bought a dozen eggs at the store.
• Half a dozen – Exactly 6
  • Example: She ate half a dozen cookies.
• A pair of – Exactly 2, used for things that go together
  • Example: I need a pair of gloves for winter.

Practice: Think of a situation where you recently had to use an exact number. How would you say it using one of these expressions?

Describing Parts of a Whole

Sometimes you need to talk about a portion of something—not the exact amount, but not a vague number either.

• The majority of – More than half
  • Example: The majority of our meeting focused on next year’s plans.
• Most of – Almost all
  • Example: Most of my colleagues work remotely.
• The bulk of – The largest part
  • Example: He did the bulk of the work on this project.
• A portion of – A smaller part, usually less than half
  • Example: A portion of the proceeds will go to charity.
• A fraction of – A very small part
  • Example: We spent a fraction of our budget on marketing.

Practice: How much of your workday is spent in meetings? Try describing it with one of these phrases.

Informal Exaggerations for Emphasis

In casual conversations, native speakers exaggerate for effect. These aren’t literal—but they make your message more engaging.

• A million – A huge number (not literal)
  • Example: I have a million things to do today.
• Loads of / Tons of – Informal way to say “very many”
  • Example: There are tons of great restaurants in this city.
• A gazillion – A playful way to say “an enormous number”
  • Example: I have a gazillion emails to reply to.
• A smattering – A very small amount
  • Example: There was only a smattering of applause after the performance.

Practice: What’s something you always have too much or too little of? Use one of these fun expressions.

Final Thoughts: Speak Clearly and Confidently

Using more precise words for how much or how many will make your English sound more natural and expressive.

Start small:

• Choose one new expression from each category.
• Use it in daily conversations or emails.

Listen for them:

• Notice these words in podcasts, TV shows, or workplace conversations.

Keep practicing:

• The more you use them, the more natural they’ll feel.

If you enjoyed this lesson, you may also want to watch my lesson on -ish, -like, and -esque to describe things when they aren’t exact.

Which new expression will you try first? Share it in the comments below.

All my best,

Annemarie