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Son James Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Large numbers of people?
Please look at this sentence.
",and that official data does not necessarily capture large numbers of people who would like to have officially registered work but do not feature in any statistics.".
I couldn't understand why the reporter wrote as "large numbers". Yes! We can treat the noun of "people" as both of singular and plural but.....
[1]Large numbers of people(?)
[2]Large number of people(?)
Are both of them okay?
Thank you for your answer in advance.
",and that official data does not necessarily capture large numbers of people who would like to have officially registered work but do not feature in any statistics.".
I couldn't understand why the reporter wrote as "large numbers". Yes! We can treat the noun of "people" as both of singular and plural but.....
[1]Large numbers of people(?)
[2]Large number of people(?)
Are both of them okay?
Thank you for your answer in advance.
Top answer
" They're both correct and natural. " It actually refers to the people themselves. I'll see if I can find a good reference on it.
- " They're both correct and natural.
- " It actually refers to the people themselves.
- I'll see if I can find a good reference on it.
- Edit.
- My American Heritage Dictionary gives this : Number noun.
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1 Answers
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Son James[1]Large numbers of people(?)
[2]A large number of people(?)These are two slightly different senses of "numbers." They're both correct and natural.
We say things like "They numbered in the millions!" "Their numbers were in the millions."
"Their numbers came thundering
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