and hundreds of billions of galaxies

[GoodTaste]

Hundreds of years ago people thought the earth was unique, and situated at the center of the universe. Today we know there are hundreds of billions of stars in our galaxy, a large percentage of them with planetary systems, and hundreds of billions of galaxies.

Source: The Grand Design by Stephen Hawking

I don't quite understand the grammar of "and hundreds of billions of galaxies". Is it the abridged form of " and (there are) hundreds of billions of galaxies (in the universe)"?

If it is so, it seems to me that the unabridged form is more natural. I am not sure.

Which form is more natural? Unabridged or abridged?

 

[Barque]

Is it the abridged form of " and (there are) hundreds of billions of galaxies (in the universe)"?

Yes.

it seems to me that the unabridged form is more natural. I am not sure.

The abridged form sounds more natural to me. The unabridged one also works for me if you only include "there are", and not "in the universe". Adding "in the universe" makes it sound quite forced.

 

[jutfrank]

I don't understand the question. What is an 'abridged form'? Is this a question about what the text means or about a particular use of language?

... and [there are] hundreds of billions of galaxies.

The existential there-be phrase has been ellipted to avoid repetition. There's no need at all to say in the universe, since that's clear from the context, and as an adjunct it's grammatically unnecessary.

 

[GoodTaste]

Well, edited: abridged ==>>>ellipted.

 

[5jj]

Abridged is normally used of complete books.