plenty of: usage
Hi.

According to the rule, we can use plenty of + countable noun (plenty of options).

Therefore, can we say: There was a plenty of people. / Or I've got plenty of tasks.

Also, can we use it in a negative sentence? I haven't got plenty of ideas.

Question

plenty of: usage
Hi.

According to the rule, we can use plenty of + countable noun (plenty of options).

Therefore, can we say: There was a plenty of people. / Or I've got plenty of tasks.

Also, can we use it in a negative sentence? I haven't got plenty of ideas.

Answer

Hi Rook,

Plenty of + countable noun is correct as you said (eg "plenty of options, plenty of places to go" etc).

Plenty of + uncountable noun is also correct (eg "I have plenty of time", "He has plenty of friends" etc).

"There was plenty of people" is not correct, you should say "there were plenty of people" (because "people" is plural).

No, we don't usually say "plenty of" in negative sentences. There are many different quantifiers that you can use for negative phrases like "I haven't got a lot of ideas" or "I have very few ideas" etc.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Jamie (www.italki.com/jamie.teacher)