a (the) number of…作主語時謂語的數

一、“the number +復數名詞”作主語，謂語用單數。如：

The number of the students increased to 500. 學生人數增加到了500人。

The number of students absent is 6. 缺席的學生人數為6。

The number of jobs is increasing. 工作的數目正在增加。

The number of chairs in the room is ten. 屋內椅子共有十把。

The number of the unemployed is still increasing. 失業的人還在增加。

The number of cars has greatly in creased. 轎車的數量大大地增加了。

The number of stamp-collectors is growing apace. 集郵者的人數在迅速增加。

And here are the main points of the news again. The pound has fallen against the dollar. The Prime Minister has said that the government’s economic policies are working. The number of unemployed has reached five million. There has been a fire... 下面把新聞要點再說一遍。英鎊對美元的比價已經下跌。首相說政府的經濟政策正在起作用。失業人數已經達到500萬。發生了一場大火……

二、“a number of+復數名詞”作主語，謂語用復數。如：

A number of people were injured. 不少人受了傷。

There were a number of swans on the lake. 湖上有好些天鵝。

There are a number of factors which we’re to consider. 有很多因素我們需要考慮。

A number of houses were burned down in the fire. 在火災中燒掉了不少房子。

A large number ofpeople have come to see the exhibition. 許多人來看展覽會。

A number of workers have recently left the company. 最近有很多工人辭掉了工作。

A number of veterans have retired and some are ready to. 很多老隊員已退役，另一些也準備退役。

A number of people have tried to find the treasure, but they have all failed. 許多人都努力尋找寶藏，但是他們都失敗了。