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number of vs. numbers of

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number of vs. numbers of

by mmon » Wed Jan 27, 2010 4:21 am
Having more than the usual numbers of fingers or toes on the hands or feet is termed polydactyly.
A. Having more than the usual numbers of fingers or toes
B. Having had more than the usual number of fingers or toes
C. Having more than the usual number of fingers or toes
D. To have more than the usual number of fingers or toes
E. To have more than the usual numbers of fingers or toes

when do we use number of and when numbers of? examples of any other usage related to this is appreciated.
OA C
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by papgust » Wed Jan 27, 2010 4:28 am
Hi,

Generally, "numbers of" is wrong in GMAT. You can use either "A number of" or "The number of".

"A number of X" is plural and must take a plural verb, whereas "The number of X" is singular and must take a singular verb.

In this sentence, the only difference b/w A and C is that A uses "numbers of" and C uses "number of". A can be eliminated due to illogical usage of "numbers of". So, C remains.
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by Osirus@VeritasPrep » Wed Jan 27, 2010 6:08 am
Just remember the rule that if the noun is countable use "number of" if the noun is non-countable use "amount of". Countable means you can put a number in front of it. For example, computers is a countable noun. You can have one computer, two computers, three computers, etc. Air is a non-countable noun, you can't say one air, two airs, three airs, etc.
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by mmslf75 » Wed Jan 27, 2010 6:47 am
papgust wrote:Hi,

Generally, "numbers of" is wrong in GMAT. You can use either "A number of" or "The number of".

"A number of X" is plural and must take a plural verb, whereas "The number of X" is singular and must take a singular verb.

In this sentence, the only difference b/w A and C is that A uses "numbers of" and C uses "number of". A can be eliminated due to illogical usage of "numbers of". So, C remains.
hey pap
I would like to correct something here

NUMBERS OF is not INCORRECT on GMAT

THE NUMBERS OF / A NUMBERS OF is incorrect though
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by akahuja143 » Wed Jan 27, 2010 9:51 am
Numbers of always incorrect, for pularl stuff we use A number of..

You can elimnate A and E for Numbers

Elimnate B because tense issue

C and D are close..
we can eliminate D becuase if we use To have then we need a Object in the sentence.. therefore C is the right answer
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by mmslf75 » Wed Jan 27, 2010 10:06 am
akahuja143 wrote:Numbers of always incorrect, for pularl stuff we use A number of..

You can elimnate A and E for Numbers

Elimnate B because tense issue

C and D are close..
we can eliminate D becuase if we use To have then we need a Object in the sentence.. therefore C is the right answer
hey ak
i guess ur misguided :-)

Please see this first :

quote from Stacey

PostThu Jan 14, 2010 11:48 am Thank this user for their post
Quote:
But let's say you have - Each test center has its own schedule of GMAT test dates and accommodates a varying numbers of students.
Not quite. It would be correct to say "accommodates varying numbers of students" but not "accommodates a varying numbers of students."
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by prinit » Wed Jan 27, 2010 11:58 am
osirus0830 wrote:Just remember the rule that if the noun is countable use "number of" if the noun is non-countable use "amount of". Countable means you can put a number in front of it. For example, computers is a countable noun. You can have one computer, two computers, three computers, etc. Air is a non-countable noun, you can't say one air, two airs, three airs, etc.
Thanks for the tips ..really appreciate that.
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by becnil » Wed Jan 27, 2010 1:41 pm
I would go with C for this case, but the discussion on "Numbers of" being always incorrect (or not) is interesting !!
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by papgust » Wed Jan 27, 2010 8:46 pm
Hi mmslf,

Yes you are right. "Numbers of" is not incorrect. Only "The numbers of" and "A numbers of" are incorrect.

Even then, option A is wrong as it says ".. more than the usual numbers of .."
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by mmslf75 » Wed Jan 27, 2010 9:07 pm
papgust wrote:Hi mmslf,

Yes you are right. "Numbers of" is not incorrect. Only "The numbers of" and "A numbers of" are incorrect.

Even then, option A is wrong as it says ".. more than the usual numbers of .."
yeh pap, agreed to tht point.
i only wanted to state usage of NUMBERS OF .. ;-)
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