a large number of / large numbers of/ the large number of

[wotcha]

1) There are a large number of people in the class.

2) There are large numbers of people in the class.

3) There are the large number of people in the class.

4) There are the large numbers of people in the class.

5) There is a big number of people in the class.


Are they all correct? If they are, how are they different in the meaning?

Also, can this noun phrase modify uncountable nouns? I mean...

6) There is a large number of money in my bag.

Is it correct?

[Rover_KE]

Only 2) and 5) are grammatically correct, though the plural form of 2) is not suitable for a class - more like a pop festival or the football World Cup.

5) would be perfect if you hadn't changed large to big.

See the Similar Threads at the bottom of the page.

Rover