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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
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The same number of
Which of the following sentences is correct: "The same number of people sit at each side of the table" or "The same number of people sits at each side of the table"?
(I know the general rule that one should use the singular after "the number of.." and the plural after "a number of..", but I'm not sure if this rule is also valid in this special case.)
By the way, is it "at" or "on each side of the table"?
(I know the general rule that one should use the singular after "the number of.." and the plural after "a number of..", but I'm not sure if this rule is also valid in this special case.)
By the way, is it "at" or "on each side of the table"?
Top answer
[/nq] "sit" sounds much more natural to me. "sits" is okay though. )[/nq] Is that the rule?
- [/nq] "sit" sounds much more natural to me.
- "sits" is okay though.
- )[/nq] Is that the rule?
- [/nq] I marginally favour "on" over "at" in your sentence.
- Preposition+side+table sentences sometimes favour "on" and sometimes "at".
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1 Answers
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[nq:1]Which of the following sentences is correct: "The same number of peoplesit at each side of the table" or "The same number of people sits at each side of the table"?[/nq]
"sit" sounds much more natural to me. "sits" is okay though.
[nq:1](I know the general rule that one should use the singular after "thenumber of.." and the plural after "a number of..", but I'm not sure if this rule
"sit" sounds much more natural to me. "sits" is okay though.
[nq:1](I know the general rule that one should use the singular after "thenumber of.." and the plural after "a number of..", but I'm not sure if this rule
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