Phrases/words that set your teeth on edge.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

... but would you really say:
There is a number of ways to get from A to B?

I think I would ... or, probably, "There's a number of ways ... " followed by some examples of the different routes I had in mind.

If so, what is that number?

I'd go through at least some of them. If your argument here is correct, then by extension the riposte to "there are a number" would be "If so, what are that number?", wouldn't it?

[Pulcinella]

I think I would ... or, probably, "There's a number of ways ... " followed by some examples of the different routes I had in mind.


I'd go through at least some of them. If your argument here is correct, then by extension the riposte to "there are a number" would be "If so, what are that number?", wouldn't it?

I would certainly never say 'What are that number?' as a standalone statement/question, but agree that 'There's a number of ways....' sounds OK, without implying specificity, rather curiously!
I still think that saying 'There is a number of ways.....' implies a specific number, whereas 'There are a number of ways....' is generic.
Oh, the joys of English, and why it's so hard to explain or teach to non-native speakers!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Oh, the joys of English, and why it's so hard to explain or teach to non-native speakers!

Thinking further as I was washing my dishes, I realized that I could quite conceivably make a comment on the lines of "There's a number of ways to get to the town centre. Amongst them/these are .... " the focus shifting from the (singular) "number" to the (plural) "ways".

There's loads of ways of getting round the problem (if such it is)

[teamsaint]

the team is working on it.

Aren't they?

and since this ISN'T pedants corner....

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

"The team are working on it"

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

[teamsaint]

"The team are working on it"

I edited that.
still works though.

In fact better.

[jean]

...would you really say:
There is a number of ways to get from A to B?

You'd be even less likely to say 'there is a lot of ways...'

What's already happened to a lot is haappening to a number. Soon you won't even notice.

[Pulcinella]

You'd be even less likely to say 'there is a lot of ways...'

What's already happened to a lot is haappening to a number. Soon you won't even notice.

Still doesn't really explain why 'There's a lot....' or 'There's a number....' sounds OK (to my ears, at least) but 'There is a lot/number' doesn't! Maybe just what we're used to hearing?

[jean]

I very much suspect because it is considered as relevant as mentioning people having being murdered in mansions, luxury villas, semi-detached houses, detached bungalows and mobile homes ... ?

A particular mansion belonging to a particular person might be mentioned. But other types of house never are.

I have yet to read of anything terrible happening in a house identifid as semi-detached. But terraced has become careless shorthand for poor and squalid.

(I notice these things becauuse I live in a terraced house.)

[teamsaint]

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/words/number-of-people-is-or-are

http://random-idea-english.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-team-are-collective-nouns-in.html

these are from the internet, so undoubtedly correct.

[teamsaint]

A particular mansion belonging to a particular person might be mentioned. But other types of house never are.

I have yet to read of anything terrible happening in a house identifid as semi-detached. But terraced has become careless shorthand for poor and squalid.

(I notice these things because I live in a terraced house.)

I take your point, but a quick google doesn't support the idea that other types of property aren't specifically mentioned.

Where it is a property in an expensive area , other descriptions ( town house, 4 Storey house) are used for terraced houses.

[Pulcinella]

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/wo...ople-is-or-are

http://random-idea-english.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-team-are-collective-nouns-in.html

these are from the internet, so undoubtedly correct.

Good to know!

Maybe the blue highlights (themselves links?) in the Oxford link above have clouded the issue, and the terminology is either 'a determiner' or simply 'determiner', but I don't quite understand the bit in (outer) brackets here:

Although the expression ‘a number’ is strictly singular, the phrase ‘a number of’' is used with plural nouns (as what grammarians call a determiner (or determiner)).

[Beef Oven!]

the team is working on it.

Aren't they?

and since this ISN'T pedants corner....

[Nick Armstrong]

Good one today from the newly-crowned Queen of University Challenge:





I know what she means...