- Usage note : lot
- When a lot is used as a pronoun (they buy a lot, he spends a lot), it is translated by beaucoup : ils achètent beaucoup, il dépense beaucoup. For particular usages, see A1 in the entry lot1.When a lot is used to mean much in negative expressions (they didn’t have a lot) it is translated by pas grand-chose : ils n’avaient pas grand-chose. For particular usages, see A1 in the entry lot1.When the lot is used as a pronoun (they took the lot), it is usually translated by tout : ils ont tout pris. For particular usages, see A2 in the entry lot1.When a lot of is used as a quantifier (a lot of money) it is translated by beaucoup de. For particular usages, see B1 in the entry lot1.For translations of lots of, see C in the entry lot1.When a lot is used as an adverb (a lot stronger, he’s changed a lot) it is translated by beaucoup : beaucoup plus fort, il a beaucoup changé. For particular usages, see E in the entry lot.
Big English-French dictionary. 2003.