1
a number of + plural noun (as subject)
谓语动词用复数形式。
A number of students are waiting outside.
许多学生正在外面等候。
许多的
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
许多的
an unspecified quantity of; many
A number of students are waiting outside.
许多学生正在外面等候。
A number of students attended the lecture.
许多学生参加了讲座。
There are a number of reasons why I disagree.
我不同意的原因有很多。
She has read a number of books on the topic.
她读了不少关于这个主题的书。
谓语动词用复数形式。
A number of students are waiting outside.
许多学生正在外面等候。
The committee approved a number of proposals.
委员会批准了许多提案。
可用large, small等形容词修饰number。
A large number of people attended the event.
许多人参加了这个活动。
Not this
A number of students is waiting.
Use this
A number of students are waiting.
“a number of”后接可数名词复数时，谓语动词应用复数形式；这里“students”是复数，所以动词应使用“are”。
Not this
I have a number of furniture in my room.
Use this
I have a number of pieces of furniture in my room.
“a number of”只能修饰可数名词复数，而“furniture”是不可数名词，不能直接使用；应添加量词“pieces of”将不可数名词转化为可数形式。
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后接可数名词复数；作主语时，谓语动词用复数。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT.