How many is many? [closed]

Solution 1:

'Many' as a pronoun and adjective has no definite or precise value, but when you say 'there are many people in my class' and when you say 'there are many people in my country' it all depends on how you look at it psychologically.

Let's assume you say to a person that does not know the meaning of 'country' and 'class' that “there are many people in my country and many people in my class”, the person has no knowledge of the size of a country compared to the size of a class. Therefore, the person will treat them alike in quantity.

English is like that person that has no knowledge of what a country or a class is, therefore, treats them alike but it depends on how you see subject of the sentence which is in this case 'class' compared to 'country'. In a nutshell, its actually psychological quantity and extent at which the term 'many' is, and it depends on how you look at it.

Solution 2:

Many designates "...a large but indefinite number" (OED). Ordinarily it implies, for me, a (statistically) significant proportion of a total population but fewer than 50%. If more than 50% are inolved I would say 'most' rather than 'many'.

'The many', is a special usage, used to compare and contrast with 'the few'.