very many things

USAGE SUMMARY

"very many things" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to express a large quantity of something and can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. For example: "There are very many things on my to-do list today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

So I don't think about very many things.

The Guardian - Books

"I don't trust very many things anymore," she said.

The New York Times

"You know," I said, "I've changed my mind on very many things.

The New Yorker

"The president obviously has very many things on his mind at the moment".

The New York Times

They did not even say very many things that were unprintable in this newspaper.

The New York Times

"Is this a theory of something, very many things or nothing?

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

There are so very many worse things that can happen to a man.

The Guardian - Opinion

If Hitler had begun the war three years later, surely very many other things would have been different, and not all of them to his favor.

The New York Times - Books

How beautifully Farah has him voice it: "I dreamt at one point that I was setting very, very many small things right".

The New York Times - Books

Gilmore said the coalition's troubles "started in 2011 when Fine Gael and Labour formed a government together and had to do very many unpopular things.

The Guardian

Because it is revoltingly cruel – one might argue that it is perhaps the cruellest of all the very many cruel things done to animals on today's factory farms, which is saying something.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "very many things" with a specific context to provide clarity. For example, instead of "I have very many things to do", specify "I have very many things to do before the deadline".

Common error

Avoid using "very" excessively throughout your writing. While "very many things" is acceptable, relying too heavily on "very" can make your writing sound repetitive. Consider replacing "very many things" with a more descriptive phrase like "a multitude of items" or "numerous objects" /s/numerous+objects for a stronger impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very many things" functions as a quantifier phrase, modifying a noun and indicating a large quantity or variety. As Ludwig AI explains, it is used to express a large quantity of something and can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "very many things" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that indicates a substantial quantity or variety. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across different contexts. Its neutral tone makes it suitable for news, general writing, and even some formal business settings, as shown by its prevalent use in news media, science, and business publications. For more formal situations, alternatives such as "numerous objects" or "a great number of items" might be more appropriate. Avoid overusing "very" to keep your writing concise and impactful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a great number of items

Emphasizes quantity using "a great number", suitable for formal contexts.

a multitude of items

Replaces "things" with the more formal "items" and uses "multitude" to emphasize a large number.

numerous objects

Substitutes "things" with "objects" and "very many" with "numerous", providing a slightly more precise and formal tone.

a host of matters

Employs more formal vocabulary like "host" and "matters".

a wealth of topics

Expresses a rich variety of subjects, often implying depth and complexity.

an abundance of subjects

Indicates a plentiful amount of topics or themes.

various aspects

Replaces "things" with "aspects", suggesting a variety of different elements or considerations.

plenty of stuff

Offers a more informal alternative using "plenty" and "stuff".

several concerns

Implies a number of worries or points of interest.

loads of issues

Uses "loads" for emphasis and "issues" to imply problems or topics of discussion.

FAQs

How can I use "very many things" in a sentence?

You can use "very many things" to describe a large quantity or variety of items, tasks, or concepts. For example: "She had very many things to consider before making a decision."

What is a more formal alternative to "very many things"?

If you're looking for a more formal alternative, consider using phrases like "a great number of items" or "numerous objects".

Is it redundant to say "very many things"?

While some may find it slightly redundant, the emphasis of "very" before "many" can strengthen the expression. However, consider if a single, more descriptive word could be used instead for conciseness.

What's the difference between "very many things" and "so many things"?

"Very many things" and "so many things" are quite similar, but "so many things" often carries a slightly stronger emotional connotation, implying surprise or overwhelm, while "very many things" is more neutral in tone.