A lot of和lots of都是“很多”的意思,用法有两点值得注意.第一,a lot of和lots of都可用来说可数(countable)或不可数(uncountable)名词,而动词应用单数或复数形式,则看那名词而定,和a lot或lots无关.例如“A lot of/Lots of money was lost.(损失了很多钱.)”一语,lots之后不用were;“A lot of/Lots of people were wounded.(很多人受了伤.)”一语,a lot of之后也不用was.第二,many/much和a lot of/lots of意思相同,但语气上,many和much没有a lot of那么随便,a lot of又没有lots of那么随便.所以,a lot of / lots of不宜用于谨严的写作,多见于口语;但问句、否定句口头上也多用many和much.例如甲问:“How much time have we?(我们有多少时间?)”乙可以说:“We haven't much time.(我们没有很多时间.)”或“We have a lot of/lots of time.(我们有很多时间.)”向人道谢,说“Thanks a lot!”也比“Thanks very much!”随便.此外,年、月、日、时等时间单位,不可和a lot of/lots of连用,例如“I lived in Macau for many years before coming to Hong Kong.(我在澳门住了多年才来香港.)”一语,many不可改为a lot of