What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
many
Example
There are many books on the shelf. [many: determiner]
Example
Many people attended the concert last night. [many: pronoun]
several
Example
I have several friends who live in New York. [several: determiner]
Example
The store has several options for vegan snacks. [several: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Many is more common than several in everyday language and is used in a wider range of contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between many and several?
Many can be seen as more formal than several, but both words can be used in formal and informal contexts.
