LoginSeveral vs. A Number Of
These two words are exactly the same. Let us get to know them.
What Are Their Main Differences?
Differences
- 'A number of':
is considered an expression that acts as a quantifier such as 'many'. People sometimes get confused when they use the indefinite article 'a' and the term number as singulars. But here is the thing; Think of a number as the same as 'many'. Remember exactly the same as many it is used with plural nouns and plural verbs. Be careful the meaning is not the same as 'many'. A number of means more than 'a few,' but 'not many.'
In this example, we don't know the exact number. It refers to a large indeterminate number.
We have visited
- 'Several':
'Several' is more than 'a few' in number but it is not as large as 'many'. For example, if we consider it as a number it is between 6 and 7. But remember, these numbers are just approximate to help you learn, and they are not exact. Another point to know is that 'several' does not refer to a specific number.
I have read
In this example, it means that the books were not a lot, maybe 3 to 15 books.
Recently, they discovered
'The Number of'
Try not to mix up 'a number of' and 'the number of.' The term 'number' can mean an amount or total. The phrase 'the number of' is followed by a plural noun but the key point is that it is not followed by a plural verb as well. Instead, it is followed by a singular verb because it makes up a 'collection' and 'group.'
Grammatical Functions
- 'Several':
- as a determiner
- as a pronoun
- as an adjective
'Several' as a determiner is used before plural nouns. As a pronoun, several is used alone with no nouns immediately after it and as an adjective, it is used before nouns and it means 'separate*'.
I was waiting for him to show up
We shared
- 'A number of':
- An expression used as a phrase determiner
As a phrase determiner, 'a number of' is used before plural countable nouns.
I made
When Using Pronouns and Noun phrases
- 'Several':
cannot immediately be followed by a noun phrase or a pronoun. For example, we cannot say 'several the oceans.' So, we have to use the term 'of' after several to be allowed to use a noun phrase or a pronoun afterward.
- 'A number of':
Can be immediately followed by a pronoun or a noun phrase as it includes the term 'of' in its own expression.
I have seen many creatures in the ocean,
Similarities
How Verbs Agree with the Nouns after 'a Number of' and 'Several'
- 'Several' and 'A number of':
As you know, both 'several' and 'a number of' are followed by plural nouns and as a result, they are used with plural verbs. The term 'several' can also be a pronoun, so, even if there is not any noun immediately after it, we are supposed to use a plural verb with it, because it refers to a small number.
My aunt has
How They Can Be Synonyms
'A number of' and 'several' both mean not many so as a result we can consider them synonyms. However, they have some delicate differences that were discussed in the article.
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