how many
/haʊ ˈmɛni/
Meaning
Use this phrase to ask about the exact number or quantity of things that you can count, such as books, people, or days. It is always followed by a plural countable noun. It is a fundamental question starter in daily life.
Examples
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How many apples do we need for the pie?
How many apples do we need for the pie?
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How many people are coming to the party tonight?
How many people are coming to the party tonight?
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I don't know how many times I've watched this movie.
I don't know how many times I've watched this movie.
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How many siblings do you have?
How many siblings do you have?
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Can you tell me how many rooms are available?
Can you tell me how many rooms are available?
Common Mistakes
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✗ How many money do you have?
✓ How much money do you have?
'Money' is an uncountable noun. Use 'how much' for uncountable nouns and 'how many' only for countable nouns.
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✗ How many book did you buy?
✓ How many books did you buy?
'How many' must always be followed by a plural noun, not a singular one.
Related Expressions
Practice
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___ cups of coffee do you drink every day?
💡 Ask about a countable number of cups.
Show answer
How many
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Do you know ___ students are in our class?
💡 Ask about the count of people.
Show answer
how many