a number of / the number of

by **Guest** Thu Jan 31, 2008 10:54 pm

Hello,

i want to know what should follow after "a number of" and "the number of" - are the following sentences correct? Kindly help and explain . thanks.

A number of people HAVE gone ....

The number of people HAS gone ....

by **StaceyKoprince** Fri Feb 01, 2008 2:22 am

Yes! "A number of " is always plural and "the number of" is always singular. "number" stays the same, but the article in front ("a" or "the") tells you whether it should be singular or plural.

by **Guest** Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:07 pm

thanks Stacey !! :D

by **StaceyKoprince** Mon Mar 31, 2008 2:29 pm

you're welcome!

by **Aragorn** Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:07 am

this may not be too technical, but helps me remember a number of versus the number of.

The is specific thing, hence the number...is singular. E.g. the apple means only one specific apple. A apple on the other hand is more general...could be any apple, so it is not specific, so not singular!!

Like I said, no grammar logic here, just something to help me remember the concept.

by **rfernandez** Fri May 02, 2008 3:01 pm

If that helps you, it might help others. Thanks for sharing.

Rey

by **UPA** Fri May 02, 2008 8:19 pm

Aragorn Wrote:this may not be too technical, but helps me remember a number of versus the number of.

The is specific thing, hence the number...is singular. E.g. the apple means only one specific apple. A apple on the other hand is more general...could be any apple, so it is not specific, so not singular!!

Like I said, no grammar logic here, just something to help me remember the concept.

The statement coloured above is not correct. first a apple is never correct, it should be an apple. Lets suppose "a apple" is correct. it is always singular not plural.

here the issue is "a number" or "the number". the number is singular because it means onoly one number. it only refers to either 5 or 6 or 7. so it is alweays signular.

"a number" is not specific. it means multiple numbers; so it is plural.

Stacey Koprince has clearly explained why they are singular and plural.

by **StaceyKoprince** Tue May 06, 2008 1:30 am

I jog my memory by using two simple sentences. Eg:

A number of dogs are running around outside.

The number of dogs is smaller today than it was yesterday.

a number of / the number of

a number of / the number of

a trick to remember

Re: a trick to remember