lots 不单独用的,lots of＝a lot of 后面接可数名词和不可数名词均可,接可数名词时谓语用复数,接不可数名词时,谓语用单数.
a lot 当然不是名词性短语了,而是副词性短语,修饰动词.比如：Thanks a lot.= Thanks very much.
再比如：I know him a lot.
plenty of 和以上lots of 和a lot of相似,后面接可数名词和不可数名词均可,接可数名词时谓语用复数,接不可数名词时,谓语用单数.
much 只能修饰不可数名词
many 只能修饰可数名词复数
a lot of是口语中极常用的表示“许多、大量”的词组,它可以修饰任何复数名词,相当于many和much(多用于书面语).lots of=a lot of
此外,还有许多词组可以表示不确定的数量:
plenty of丰富;充足;大量(可修饰任何复数名词)
He has plenty of humorous stories to tell.他有许多幽默故事可讲.
Make sure there's plenty of food for everyone.要确保每个人都有充足的食物.
a great/good deal of大量的(只可修饰不可数名词)
A great deal of work awaits me.许多工作等着我去做.
a great/good many很多(只可修饰复数可数名词)
There are a good many people in the hall.大厅里有很多人.(注意：people是集合名词,单数复数同形,它所表示的数量要根据实际情况推测.)
a number of的意思是“一些”,相当于some,如果要表示许多的意思,就要加上一个“强语势形容词”large(只可修饰复数可数名词)
A large number of people have left.很多人都走了.
heaps of口语中表达许多、大量的又一种方法(只可修饰不可数名词)
I have heaps of work to do.我有一大堆工作要做.
由于a lot of表达“许多”的意思,而后面的evidence却用单数,可以推知evidence是不可数名词.
There is a lot of evidence that jealousy is linked to long-term love.许多证据表明嫉妒和感情持久有关系.这句话的语态是被动语态,that引导的名词从句that jealousy is linked to long-term love对前面的evidence做进一步的补充和说明.