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SheltieBites Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Make Up The Numbers
http://www.stagesafe.co.uk/pages/460-Group&IndividualBookings
"f you don’t have 15 persons, please contact us as we may be able to find the people to make up the numbers."
Why is it not "make up the number"? What's with the plural? I do know that "number" means a group of things.
"f you don’t have 15 persons, please contact us as we may be able to find the people to make up the numbers."
Why is it not "make up the number"? What's with the plural? I do know that "number" means a group of things.
Top answer
" We examined the group but failed to find any sick people among their numbers. " Do the numbers . It's a bit casual.
- " We examined the group but failed to find any sick people among their numbers.
- " Do the numbers .
- It's a bit casual.
- The numbers are important!
- Also, in your example, the explanation given may be intended to apply to a variety of cases.
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1 Answers
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Both are possible, but in situations like this we often use "numbers" to mean "people."
We examined the group but failed to find any sick people among their numbers.
Also, "the numbers" is often used as an idiom similar to "do the math." Do the numbers. It's a bit casual.
The numbers are important!
Also, in your example, the explanation given may be
We examined the group but failed to find any sick people among their numbers.
Also, "the numbers" is often used as an idiom similar to "do the math." Do the numbers. It's a bit casual.
The numbers are important!
Also, in your example, the explanation given may be
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