a number of 意为 “大量”， “许多”，后接可数名词复数，它后接可数名词复数作主语时，谓语动词要用复数形式。 the number of意为 “……的数量(数字)”,后也接可数名词复数，但如果它后接可数名词复数作主语时，谓语动词要用单数形式。例如：[文章版权 禁止转载:考试与评价 http://www.trgroup.com.cn/te/ 4v|@N ,tz/)K082dj
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    A great number of visitors from all over the world come to China every year. 每年都有很多来自全世界的游客来中国。[文章版权 禁止转载:考试与评价 http://www.trgroup.com.cn/te/ CLSc"Ks Zjy@imxKFroG]

    The number of visitors to Beijing comes to one billion now. 目前来北京参观的游客数量达到了十亿。[文章版权 禁止转载:考试与评价 http://www.trgroup.com.cn/te/ S1KGu=)vS;aO"FroG]

    The number of people invited was fifty, but a number of them were absent for different reasons. 被邀请的人数是五十人，但他们中很多人由于种种原因缺席了。[文章版权 禁止转载:考试与评价 http://www.trgroup.com.cn/te/ pVe OUcP[|.TD O6m;FroG]