We've played many matches this season but we haven't won many. A B C D
《TOEFL, GRE 解题词典》(p.631)认为上题中的 many 必须改为 lots of。这是我所不能理解的。many + 复数名词不是很常见的吗？如 many people, many students, many matches, many mistakes 等等。
出题者的目的,在于区分 many 和 lots of (a lot of) 的用法。一般而论,many 和 much 大都用于否定句、疑问句和条件句中,而在肯定句中大都使用 lots of 或 a lot of。R. Quirk 等说得好:结果是 many 和 much(至少是在非正式语体中)如果不含某种否定或疑问含义,就极少使用。
但是，英语教师应当留意，在下列条件下，many也可以用在肯定句中：
A. 在正式语体中:
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I know many people in Boston. (CGEL) 我在波士顿认识许多人。
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In the opinion of many scientists... (PEU) 根据许多科学家的意见……
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When people move into a new place, they often destroy many wild plants. (JBO) 当人们搬迁到一个新地方时，经常砍伐掉大量的野生植物。
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She has many good ideas. (CGEL) 她有许多好主意。
B. many 本身带有修饰语时：
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You have too many books on the shelf. (LDCE) 你书架上的书太多了。
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Isabell has as many books as her brother (has). (CGEL) 伊莎贝尔拥有和她兄弟一样多的书。
C. many 用作表语时：
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His faults were many. (CGEL) 他的错误是很多的。
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We are many. They are few. (Shelley) 我们是多数,他们是少数。
D. many 前有定冠词时：
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I am well aware of the many dangers (that) we face. (CGEL) 我充分意识到了我们所面临的很多困难。
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... the many brilliant speeches that had been made... (EED) ……所做的很多精彩的演讲……
E. 当 many + 名词或 many of + 名词或代词用作主语时：
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Many of us were too tired to go further. (Palmer) 我们中的很多人太累了,无法再往前走。
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Many people have been killed... 许多人被杀死了……
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Many of the old people were blind. (EED) 很多老年人是盲人。
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Many accidents arise as a result of negligence. (LDOCE) 很多事故是由于疏忽大意而发生的。
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During the autumn, many rare birds may be observed on the rocky northern coasts of the island. (CGEL) 秋天，在这个岛的多岩石的北部海岸可以观察到许多珍贵的鸟。
现在回过头来讨论上面的试题: 虽然 PEU 中的原句是: We have played lots of matches... , 但是, 这并不意味着把 lots of 换为 many 就一定是绝对错误的, 请对比 A 项中的例句。
[建议]在各类英语考试中不宜再出类似试题。