there's only so much vs there are only so much

The correct phrase is 'there's only so much.' This is because 'so much' is considered a singular concept, so it should be paired with 'there's' (there is) instead of 'there are.'

Last updated: April 01, 2024 • 293 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"there's only so much"

This phrase is used to express a limitation or restriction on the amount or extent of something.

Examples:

There's only so much I can do to help.
There's only so much time we have to finish the project.
There's only so much patience I have left.
There's only so much you can expect from me.
There's only so much money in the budget.

Show examples from the web [+]

Look, fellas, as a producer, there's only so much I can do.
You gave us Clearasil and we're extremely grateful, but there's only so much business it's going to do.
No, I'm glad that you came to me, but there's only so much I can do with a few cells.
It's just there's only so much I can do to keep Ted and Kristin apart.
When a computer gets hit with a kernel panic, there's only so much you can do.
Well, we would try, but, honestly, there's only so much we can do.
And there's only so much room in the upstairs.
And there's only so much pathetic I can take.
As entertaining as this has been, there's only so much a judge can take.
Look, I understand there's only so much you're willing to do to help me out.
I have my men working on it, but there's only so much we can do.
Now, Mama said there's only so much fortune a man really needs, and the rest is just for showing off.
But there's only so much hurt a man can take.
You know, I've done my best to research alternative teaching methods, but there's only so much I can do.
I have been patient and understanding, But there's only so much I can take.
But there's only so much you can take.
Mike, there's only so much I can do.
But if you won't talk to me, there's only so much I can do.
Keeping in mind there's only so much I can do for a confessed terrorist.
With everything going on, there's only so much heartbreak a person can take in one day.

This phrase is incorrect in English.

"there are only so much"

Show examples from the web [+]

there are only so much
When you realize there are only so many things you can teach a child.
See, there are only so many manipulations a wife has.
Nathan, I realize that, but there are only so many hours in the day.
Look, there are only so many paper cup companies I can turn around.
Given more time, I would like to have made up some active crossovers and tried the MC4x100 with my two way speakers but there are only so many hours in a day.
Since the cache is limited in size, there are only so many pieces of data that can be held before the segments must be recycled.
It... there are only so many fonts out there.
After all, there are only so many homes and so many people with good enough jobs to buy them, right?
That might seem like a low number, but since we're usually talking about categories like Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat, Keno, Scratch Cards and Video Poker, there are only so many variants of a game that you can cover.
But there are only so many jobs, And the board and I have some tough choices to make
I thought about blowing it off...'... but there are only so many family dinners you can skip.'
The problem is there are only so many hours in the day, and I am only one woman, but with a column -
It has been an unusually cold winter, and there are only so many things that I, as Prime Minister, am prepared to inflict on your subjects as a reward for winning a World War and prevailing over fascism, evil and tyranny.
There are only so many people around capable of doing something like that.
There are only so many viable livers available for transplant.
There are only so many places you could stash something that size.
There are only so many minds I can control at any given time.
There are only so many command positions available.
There are only so many drains you can look down before AC-12 becomes a laughing stock.
There are only so many tricks we have up our sleeves to put a body back together.

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there's only so much vs there are only so much