Understanding Quantifiers for People

The question asks us to fill in the blank with the most appropriate word to describe a quantity of "people" who prefer tea over coffee. The blank is followed by the word "people", which is a countable noun (you can count individual people).

We need to choose a quantifier that correctly modifies a countable noun like "people". Let's look at the options provided:

• A great deal of: This phrase is typically used with uncountable nouns, like "a great deal of time" or "a great deal of effort". It is not suitable for countable nouns like "people".
• Plenty of: This quantifier can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. For example, "plenty of people" or "plenty of water". This option is grammatically correct.
• Much: This quantifier is primarily used with uncountable nouns, especially in negative sentences or questions, like "much information" or "How much money do you have?". It is not used with countable nouns like "people".
• A lot of: This quantifier can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. It is very commonly used in informal and formal contexts. For example, "a lot of people" or "a lot of rain". This option is also grammatically correct.

Comparing the grammatically correct options, "A lot of" is a very common and natural choice when referring to a large number of people. "Plenty of" is also correct and implies a sufficient or large amount.

Given the options and common usage, "A lot of" is generally considered a standard and appropriate quantifier for a large number of countable nouns like "people".

Therefore, filling the blank with "A lot of" creates the sentence: "A lot of people prefer tea to coffee."