Cool MateSeveral vs There were many of them
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Several
Top 1,000 (very common)A2
There were many of them
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Several
| Several | There were many of them | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsevrəl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsevrəl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðeə wɜːr ˈmɛni əv ðɛm//🇺🇸 //ðɛr wɜr ˈmɛni əv ðɛm// |
| Meaning | more than two but not many | A phrase indicating a large number of people or things. |
| Example | Several letters arrived this morning. | There were many of them at the concert last night. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Collocations | several examples, several options, several people, several times, several steps | there were many, many of them, there is a lot, there were several, many people |
| Antonyms | few, single | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'several' to mean 'many'., Confusing 'several' with 'a few' — 'a few' suggests a smaller number., Using 'several' with singular nouns. | Omitting 'of' and saying 'There were many them'., Using 'was' instead of 'were' for plural subjects., Confusing with 'There are many of them' for current situations. |
| Usage notes | Used to indicate an unspecified number of items greater than two. It's generally appropriate in both spoken and written English, but avoid it in very formal contexts where specific numbers are preferred. | Used when referring to a large quantity, often in informal conversation. Suitable for both spoken and written contexts but avoid in very formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Several vs There were many of them
What's the difference between Several and There were many of them?
Several: more than two but not many There were many of them: A phrase indicating a large number of people or things.
Which is more common: Several and There were many of them?
Several is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Several: Several letters arrived this morning. There were many of them: There were many of them at the concert last night.
Can I use Several and There were many of them interchangeably?
Not always. Several and There were many of them are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.