double

[mengta]

A survey by the National Council of Churches showed that in 1986 there were 20736 female ministers, almost 9 percent of the nation's clergy, double the figure for 1977.

i'm a bit confused by the "double the figure for 1977."
is the double an adjective?

thanks

[BobK]

A survey by the National Council of Churches showed that in 1986 there were 20736 female ministers, almost 9 percent of the nation's clergy, double the figure for 1977.

i'm a bit confused by the "double the figure for 1977."
is the double an adjective?

thanks

It's confusing because it's ambiguous. Either there were 10,368 female ministers in 1977 (so that the 1986 figure is twice that), or the percentage of female ministers in 1977 was only 4½ of the nation's clergy (so that the 1988 figure is twice that).

As to the part of speech, I'm not sure. 'Double the figure' = 'the figure after it's been doubled'; and 'after it's been doubled' (I'd say - though parsing isn't my strong point) is an adjectival phrase; so I think 'double' there is some kind of determiner. Wait for a more authoritative answer - I know I shall.

b

[MikeNewYork]

A survey by the National Council of Churches showed that in 1986 there were 20736 female ministers, almost 9 percent of the nation's clergy, double the figure for 1977.

i'm a bit confused by the "double the figure for 1977."
is the double an adjective?

thanks

Yes, "double" is an adjective. I agree with BobK that the sentence can be confusing. As it is written, "double" applies to 9%.

[RonBee]

A survey by the National Council of Churches showed that in 1986 there were 20736 female ministers, almost 9 percent of the nation's clergy, double the figure for 1977.

i'm a bit confused by the "double the figure for 1977."
is the double an adjective?

IMO, the sentence would be improved by the use of parentheses, thus:

A survey by the National Council of Churches showed that in 1986 there were 20,736 female ministers (almost 9 percent of the nation's clergy), double the figure for 1977.

~R

[MikeNewYork]

IMO, the sentence would be improved by the use of parentheses, thus:

A survey by the National Council of Churches showed that in 1986 there were 20,736 female ministers (almost 9 percent of the nation's clergy), double the figure for 1977.

~R

Yes, very good.

[Dr. Jamshid Ibrahim]

A survey by the National Council of Churches showed that in 1986 there were 20736 female ministers, almost 9 percent of the nation's clergy, double the figure for 1977.

i'm a bit confused by the "double the figure for 1977."
is the double an adjective?

thanks

"Double the figure" is literal translation into English (language interference). I don't know where you are from but I know that German's often make this mistake.

[MikeNewYork]

"Double the figure" is literal translation into English (language interference). I don't know where you are from but I know that German's often make this mistake.

What's wrong with "double the figure"?

[RonBee]

"Double the figure" is literal translation into English (language interference). I don't know where you are from but I know that German's often make this mistake.

That's perfectly acceptable English. (Germans)

[Dr. Jamshid Ibrahim]

That's perfectly acceptable English. (Germans)

I mean if it is used in the sense twice as much.

[MikeNewYork]

I mean if it is used in the sense twice as much.

I'm still confused.

If there were 10,368 female ministers in 1977, then the 1986 figure was double or twice as much.