In layman's terms what does The O.D.O.'s definition note for the usage of the word "number" mean?

Question

English is my first and only language, but when I read the Oxford Dictionary's (O.D.O.'s) definition note for the usage of the word "number" it was like I was reading an explanation meant for academics only.

Could somebody please be so kind as to water this down to layman's terms for me?

The construction the number of + plural noun is used with a singular verb (as in the number of people affected remains small). Thus it is the noun number rather than the noun people which is taken to agree with the verb (and which is therefore functioning as the head noun). By contrast, the apparently similar construction a number of + plural noun is used with a plural verb (as in a number of people remain to be contacted). In this case it is the noun people which acts as the head noun and with which the verb agrees. In the latter case, a number of works as if it were a single word, such as some or several. See also at lot.

They are explaining whether to use remain or remains after number of people. Now try to read it again. — michael.hor257k, Dec 09 '16 at 08:24
Yes. You would say something like "it remains" (singular) versus "they remain" (plural). — herisson, Dec 09 '16 at 08:29
Can "the number of" ever work as if it were a single word too? — thought for food, Dec 09 '16 at 08:35
I guess I'm more interested in what does this have to do with the definition of the word "number"? — thought for food, Dec 09 '16 at 08:43
It explains how the word number is used in a sentence containing the expression a/the number of [objects]. — michael.hor257k, Dec 09 '16 at 08:45
It's not the definition in terms of meaning of the word, it's really the usage. Basically, you don't consider the prepositional phrase "of people" when conjugating the verb. It doesn't tell you what a number is, but it tells you how to use the word on that context. — jimm101, Dec 09 '16 at 12:33
Possible duplicate of A number of questions "has been" or "have been" asked? — Mitch, Dec 09 '16 at 23:10

score 2 · Answer 1 · edited Dec 09 '16 at 08:53

Perhaps you'll find it easier to read when it's formatted as:

The construction the number of + plural noun is used with a singular verb (as in the number of people affected remains small). Thus it is the noun number rather than the noun people which is taken to agree with the verb (and which is therefore functioning as the head noun).

By contrast, the apparently similar construction a number of + plural noun is used with a plural verb (as in a number of people remain to be contacted). In this case it is the noun people which acts as the head noun and with which the verb agrees. In the latter case, a number of works as if it were a single word, such as some or several.

Indeed, the formatting edit did help, thank you :) – thought for food Dec 09 '16 at 08:55 — thought for food, Dec 09 '16 at 08:55

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 09 '16 at 14:10

The excerpt from the OED describes the situation like this:

[the number of X] is a singular noun phrase which takes singular agreement. The Head noun here according to the OED is the singular noun number:

The number of applicants has increased.

[a number of X] is a plural noun phrase which takes plural agreement. The Head of this noun phrase is the plural noun, X:

A number of applicants have applied for the position.

In layman's terms what does The O.D.O.'s definition note for the usage of the word "number" mean?

2 Answers2