01
viel
much / a lot of
Describes a large amount of something uncountable.
example
Für das Rezept brauchst du viel Geduld.
You need a lot of patience for the recipe.
viel
much / a lot
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Meanings
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Usage tips
For uncountable nouns
'Viel' (much / a lot of) is used for things that cannot be counted individually. These include abstract concepts, liquids, or materials.
EXAMPLE
Ich wünsche dir viel Glück für die Prüfung.
I wish you lots of luck for the exam.
Declension
Before an uncountable noun in the singular, 'viel' is usually not declined. However, when 'viel' is used as a pronoun without a noun, it is declined.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe viel Arbeit zu erledigen.
I have a lot of work to do.
Intensifying comparisons
To intensify a comparison, place 'viel' before the comparative form of an adjective. It then means 'to a great degree'.
EXAMPLE
Mein neues Handy ist viel besser als das alte.
My new phone is much better than the old one.
Adverbial use
As an adverb, 'viel' describes how intensely or frequently an action is performed. In this function, it always remains unchanged.
EXAMPLE
Sie liest sehr viel in ihrer Freizeit.
She reads a lot in her free time.
Compare with
viel vs etwas
something / somewhat
'etwas' and 'viel' can both talk about amounts. 'etwas' means a small, not exactly specified amount. 'viel' means a large amount. So the contrast is small versus large. With uncountable things like water, time, or money, the two words can be contrasted well: 'etwas Wasser' (some water / a little water) is only a small amount, while 'viel Wasser' (a lot of water) is a large amount.
viel
Du hast am Montag in der Stadt viel Geld ausgegeben.
On Monday, you spent a lot of money in the city.
etwas
Im Restaurant trinkt er heute nur etwas Wasser.
At the restaurant, he is only drinking some water today.
In real life
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