English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
SEVERAL or MANY?
I’ve been there ~many~ times; yesterday should be the fourth time, I guess (nonstandard).
I’ve been there several times; yesterday should be the fourth time, I guess (standard).
~Several~ students are taking the elective course; saw almost half of my mates in the class (nonstandard).
Many students are taking the elective course; saw almost half of my mates in the class (standard).
Several and many are not close synonyms. Several means more than two but not many. So, when you refer to 4 of about 10 to 15 people or things, you are referring to several of them; not many of them.
GAB
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