By Invitations, Numbers

Diamondrg wrote:"a number of" means "several" so it is not wrong. A large number of invitations has been sent to you.The subject modifiers (not the subject) are highlighted in red.number -- subjecthas been sent -- verbhave been sent -- incorrect because there is no subject-verb...

Inchoateknowledge wrote:A large number of invitations have been sent to you. As far as grammar is concerned, it should be has. A ... number is singular, and it's the subject of the sentence.

A large number of invitations have been sent to you. A large number of invitations means that there are many invitations. So, "A large number of invitations (Many invitations) have been sent to you."

Inchoateknowledge wrote:Yong,Slightly formal means it is slightly more frequent that this construction appears in formal speech than in informal one. Why did you think it is more like informal to say number has I had the impression that 'formal' is more correct, while 'informal' means that it...

Hi Ann "SLIGHTLY FORMAL: A large number of invitations has been sent." What I don't understand is it should be "A large number of invitations have been sent" and yet 'has' is used in the sentence quoted by you. Furthermore, it is SLIGHTLY FORMAL. What does 'slightly formal' mean? I thought that...

A large number of invitations have been sent to you.of invitations -- postmodifying prep phrasea large -- premodifiers of the subject numberTo my personal knowledge, the first finite verb of the verb phrase has to agree with the subject.number -- subjecthave -- the only one finite verb in the...

A large number of invitations have been sent to you.

After "a number of..." we normally use a plural verb, e.g. - "A number of questions were asked." (Unit 79 'Oxford Practice Grammar') - "A number of us are worried about it." (Page 61 Swan's 'How English Works') That site(*) you mentioned, Inchoateknowledge, in another posting gives an example...

Which, do you think, is the subject in this sentence, Yong?I am asking because the verb has to be in singular/plural concord with it.A large number of invitations has / have been sentIt is number and not numbers -- singular accord -- number has

A large number of invitations has / have been sent. Should 'has' or 'have' be used?