Lots, a lot, plenty

We use lots, a lot and plenty in informal styles to talk about quantities, amounts and degree. Lots and a lot are similar in meaning to much and many. Plenty means ‘enough’ or ‘more than enough’. Lots is even more informal than a lot:

Lots, a lot, plenty with a noun

When we use lots, a lot or plenty with a noun, we need of:

I’ve got lots of plans for today.

There’ll be a lot of your friends there.

There’s no need to rush. We’ve got plenty of time.

Not: We’ve got plenty time.

Lots, a lot, plenty without a noun

We usually leave out the noun after a lot, lots and plenty when the noun is obvious. When there is no following noun, we don’t use of:

A:
I haven’t got any money

B:
Don’t worry, I’ve gotplenty. (plenty of money)

She didn’t bring anything to eat but we’ve got lots anyway.

Not: … but we’ve got lots of anyway.

Formal styles: a great deal of, a good deal of, a large number

We prefer to use expressions like a great deal of (+ singular uncountable nouns) or a large number of (+ plural nouns) in more formal styles:

There’s a great deal of truth in what he said.

From here, a large number of roads led back to various parts of the city.