“大量”短语
a great deal可单独使用，也可以用在形容词或副词的比较级前，表示“大量；许多”；而a great deal of只能用在不可数名词前，表示“大量的”。如：
We learned a great deal from them.
我们从他们那里学到很多东西。
He ran a great deal faster than I. 他跑得比我快多了。
He has given me a great deal of help. 他给了我很多帮助。
[拓展] 英语中有很多短语表示“大量；许多”，根据性质可分为以下三类：
★ 修饰可数名词的有：a good / great many, a large / great number of, scores of等，谓语动词用复数形式。如：
A great / good many words and expressions have come into the language from American English.
这门语言吸收了美国英语中的许多单词和短语。
There were scores of boxes, all waiting to be checked and loaded. 大批的箱子等着检验后装运。
★ 修饰不可数名词的有：a large amount of等，谓语动词用单数形式。如：
He has spent a large amount of money on his new house.
他在新房子上花费了许多钱。
★ 既能修饰可数名词，又能修饰不可数名词的有：a lot of, lots of, plenty of等，谓语动词根据被修饰的名词是可数还是不可数来决定单复数形式。如：
There are a lot of / lots of people in that room.
那个房间里有许多人。
There’s a lot of / lots of rice in the bag.
那只口袋里有许多大米。
There are plenty of eggs in the fridge.
冰箱里有足够的鸡蛋。
Don’t worry about it. We have plenty of time.
不要着急，我们有充裕的时间。
[小试] 从A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
1. They spent ______ money on the new hospital.
A. a great deal B. a good deal of
C. a great many D. a large number of
2. He possesses ______ books.
A. plenty of B. very much
C. a great deal of D. an amount of
Key: 1. B 2. A
