核心问题
《朗文常用英语正误词典》(上海译文出版社,1994年,p.204)将下列两个句子判为错句：
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I would like to become an engineer because I know much about engineering.
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As a doctor he earns much money.
该书作者认为，句中的 much 必须改为 a lot 才是可以接受的。他们指出，much 作为名词或代词时，通常只用在否定句或疑问句中；在肯定句中，常用 a lot 或 a great deal 代替 much. 但是，我在 TOEFL 中，却遇到过这样的句子：
“What do you think of the Prime Minister’s address to the nation?”
“I liked much of what he said.” (TOEFL)
请释疑。
词典解答
上列词典把 much 的用法简单化了。请详见 much/a lot of。这里再补充一些 much 作为名词或代词用在肯定句中的例子；
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Much has been said. (MD) 已经说了许多了。
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Much of the time was wasted. (UED) 浪费了许多时间。
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Much of what you say is true. (ELD) 你说的许多内容都是正确的。
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There is much I have to tell you. (Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code) 我有许多事情要跟你说。(《达·芬奇密码》)
[附注]ALD明确指出much可用于肯定句中，只是比较正式。
(参见 many/a lot of, much/a lot of)