a lot
a lot — idiom
1. used after a verb or before a comparative form to mean by a large amount or to a
used after a verb or before a comparative form to mean by a large amount or to a high degree
The twins have grown a lot since the winter school concert.
grow a lot to show a big change
My shoulders hurt a lot after carrying those wet boxes upstairs.
hurt a lot for strong physical feeling
Online maps helped a lot when Yara drove across the island.
Fresh mangoes cost a lot during the first week of spring.
The apartment looked a lot brighter after Jisoo opened the curtains.
- much
is the basic equivalent, but it is less common than a lot in everyday affirmative sentences
- a great deal
means almost the same thing but sounds more formal
- greatly
is more formal and usually appears in written English
文法句型
grow a lot
help a lot
cost a lot
a lot + comparative adjective
用法筆記
Usually follows the verb, or comes before a comparative form, as in prices went up a lot or the room looked a lot brighter. Before a noun, English normally uses a lot of rather than a lot alone.
常見錯誤
2. used after a verb to mean on many occasions or with high frequency
used after a verb to mean on many occasions or with high frequency
Arjun stops by that tea stand a lot after football practice.
stop by a lot for repeated visits
We call Grandma a lot when storms keep her indoors.
The nurses use that side door a lot during night shifts.
Haruto travels a lot for his weekend baseball tournaments.
Our neighbors eat at the corner cafe a lot in summer.
- often
is the closest neutral synonym and can appear before the main verb
- frequently
means the same but sounds more formal
- regularly
adds the idea of happening again and again in a usual pattern
- rarely
means not often
- hardly ever
means almost never
文法句型
go there a lot
see someone a lot
travel a lot
eat out a lot
用法筆記
Usually comes after the main verb or at the end of the clause. Distinguish this sense from sense 1: here a lot means often, not by a large amount or to a strong degree.