在英文的運用中，“the number of”和“a number of”有混淆的現(xiàn)象；它們后面的動詞和名詞的數(shù)常會有問題。
在形式上，“the number of ”和“a number of”相差一點點，一個用定冠詞 the；另一個用不定冠詞 a.可是在語義和用法上，兩者的差別就大了。稍微大意，就會犯了謂語動詞和真正主語搭配不當?shù)膯栴}。
“A number of”的意思是“若干”或“許多”，相當于 some 或 a lot of，和復數(shù)名詞連用。當它出現(xiàn)在主語前時，謂語動詞和主語搭配。必要時，還可以加上形容詞great, large, small, good 等。例如：
① A number of highly qualified scholars have worked in Singapore.
② A great number of junior college graduates opt for business administration courses.
③ There are a large number of teaching posts yet to be filled.
④ Only a small number of men want to be language teachers.
⑤ A good number of books in the market are examination-oriented.
“The number of”和“a number of”一樣，跟在后頭的名詞也是復數(shù)的，不同的是這里的主語是單數(shù)的 the number，不是它后面的復數(shù)名詞，謂語動詞必須和 the number 呼應，如：
⑥ The number of undergraduates has increased over the years.
⑦ The number of new houses is unable to cope with the ever-growing population.
⑧ The number of college graduates in a country reflects its cultural standard.
這三個句子里的 the number 的性質(zhì)和下列主語一樣：
⑨ The work of lab technicians is dull but important.
⑩ The development of a language centre invariably involves long-term planning, adequate human resources, and up-to-date facilities.
11. The organisation of large-scale musical concerts calls for much time and energy.
寫像上面這樣句子的人很多，但是由于真正主語和謂語動詞隔得太遠，一不小心，就出現(xiàn)了動詞和主語不呼應的語法錯誤，如下：
12. The number of foreign workers keep on increasing.
13. The number of classrooms, offices, and teaching facilities are far from being sufficient.
14. The streaming of students in Singapore and Japan differ.
15. The cause of student mobs in some countries are related to governments' dictatorship, corruption and ill-treatment of undergraduates.
16. The rapid opening up of China's economy in recent years have prompted our businessmen to venture into the Chinese market.
12-16里的謂語動詞全部要變成單數(shù)才對：keeps; is; differs; is related to; has prompted.
在形式上，“the number of ”和“a number of”相差一點點，一個用定冠詞 the；另一個用不定冠詞 a.可是在語義和用法上，兩者的差別就大了。稍微大意，就會犯了謂語動詞和真正主語搭配不當?shù)膯栴}。
“A number of”的意思是“若干”或“許多”，相當于 some 或 a lot of，和復數(shù)名詞連用。當它出現(xiàn)在主語前時，謂語動詞和主語搭配。必要時，還可以加上形容詞great, large, small, good 等。例如：
① A number of highly qualified scholars have worked in Singapore.
② A great number of junior college graduates opt for business administration courses.
③ There are a large number of teaching posts yet to be filled.
④ Only a small number of men want to be language teachers.
⑤ A good number of books in the market are examination-oriented.
“The number of”和“a number of”一樣，跟在后頭的名詞也是復數(shù)的，不同的是這里的主語是單數(shù)的 the number，不是它后面的復數(shù)名詞，謂語動詞必須和 the number 呼應，如：
⑥ The number of undergraduates has increased over the years.
⑦ The number of new houses is unable to cope with the ever-growing population.
⑧ The number of college graduates in a country reflects its cultural standard.
這三個句子里的 the number 的性質(zhì)和下列主語一樣：
⑨ The work of lab technicians is dull but important.
⑩ The development of a language centre invariably involves long-term planning, adequate human resources, and up-to-date facilities.
11. The organisation of large-scale musical concerts calls for much time and energy.
寫像上面這樣句子的人很多，但是由于真正主語和謂語動詞隔得太遠，一不小心，就出現(xiàn)了動詞和主語不呼應的語法錯誤，如下：
12. The number of foreign workers keep on increasing.
13. The number of classrooms, offices, and teaching facilities are far from being sufficient.
14. The streaming of students in Singapore and Japan differ.
15. The cause of student mobs in some countries are related to governments' dictatorship, corruption and ill-treatment of undergraduates.
16. The rapid opening up of China's economy in recent years have prompted our businessmen to venture into the Chinese market.
12-16里的謂語動詞全部要變成單數(shù)才對：keeps; is; differs; is related to; has prompted.