English grammar
So much / so many…!; ironic some + noun (Some help you are!)
React to a mess, using so much/many and the ironic some + noun.
From the scene What a disaster!
In short
Use so much + uncountable noun and so many + plural noun for exclamations. Ironic some: Some help you are!
Your turn
Which one goes with so many + plural noun?
Options: so many oranges! · so much fruit on the ground! · some help you are!
Show answer
so many + plural noun → so many oranges!
How it works
So much + uncountable noun and so many + plural noun make an exclamation: so much fruit!, so many oranges!
Good to know
Some + noun can be ironic and mean the opposite: some help you are! (= you're no help at all), some friend he is!
Good to know
You already know what a…! for a similar reaction.
so much + uncountable noun so much fruit on the ground!
Tomás
Yes, yes... but look, so much fruit on the ground!
Sí, sí... pero mira ¡cuánta fruta por el suelo!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Yes, yes... but look, (blank)!
Options: so many oranges · some help you are · so much fruit on the ground
Show answer
Tomás
Yes, yes... but look, so much fruit on the ground!
Sí, sí... pero mira ¡cuánta fruta por el suelo!
so many + plural noun so many oranges!
Javi
So many oranges! And on top of that, here comes the director!
¡Cuántas naranjas! Y encima, ¡ya viene el director!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank)! And on top of that, here comes the director!
Options: So much fruit on the ground · Some help you are · So many oranges
Show answer
Javi
So many oranges! And on top of that, here comes the director!
¡Cuántas naranjas! Y encima, ¡ya viene el director!
ironic: some + noun + you are! some help you are!
Tomás
Another job? Some help you are!
¿Otro trabajo? ¡Menuda ayuda!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Another job? (blank)!
Options: So much fruit on the ground · So many oranges · Some help you are
Show answer
Tomás
Another job? Some help you are!
¿Otro trabajo? ¡Menuda ayuda!
ironic: some + noun + he is! some friend he is!
Nuria
Some friend he is! ...And he's taking two oranges.
¡Menudo amigo está hecho! ...Y se lleva dos naranjas.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank)! ...And he's taking two oranges.
Options: So much fruit on the ground · So many oranges · Some friend he is
Show answer
Nuria
Some friend he is! ...And he's taking two oranges.
¡Menudo amigo está hecho! ...Y se lleva dos naranjas.
(recap) what a + noun! what a disaster!
Common mistake
Not many or few here. Fruit is uncountable here.
Yes, yes... but look, so much fruit on the ground!
Sí, sí... pero mira ¡cuánta fruta por el suelo!
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| so much + uncountable noun | so much fruit on the ground! |
|---|---|
| so many + plural noun | so many oranges! |
| ironic: some + noun + you are! | some help you are! |
| ironic: some + noun + he is! | some friend he is! |
| (recap) what a + noun! | what a disaster! |
More lines from the story
- NuriaAn extra tripped over Tomás's cart.Un extra tropezó con el carrito de Tomás.
- JaviOops, I can't. I've got another job waiting!Uy, yo no puedo. ¡Tengo otro trabajo esperando!