thenumberof 意为“……的数目;……的数量”,其后接可数名词的复数形式。作主语时,谓语动词用第三人称单数形式。
the number of 表示“……的数量”, 跟复数名词连用作主语时,中心词是number, 谓语动词要用单数.例如:
The number of students in our class is50.
我们班学生的数量是50人。
The number of pages in this book is 60.
这本书有60页。
The new digital technology would allow a rapid expansion in the number of TV channels.
新的数字技术将会使电视频道的数量迅速增加。
The first and most stubborn problem was that of reductions in the number of aircraft.
最首要也是最棘手的问题是飞机数量的减少。
International rules stipulate the number of foreign entrants.
国际规则规定了外国参赛者的人数。
The number of young people obtaining qualifications has remained static or decreased.
获得资格证的年轻人数量一直维持不变或出现下降。