A Number of vs The Number of: Choose Many Items or One Total Count
In TOEIC Part 5, a number of and the number of look almost identical. One small word changes what the sentence is talking about.
The quick choice is not “What is the grammar name?” The quick choice is: is the sentence talking about several people or things, or about one total count?
The quick choice
First look at a or the. Then look at the action word later in the sentence.
A number of
The sentence is about several people or things and what they do: a number of employees are, a number of customers have.
The number of
The sentence is about one total count and how that count changes: the number of employees is, the number of complaints has.
The signal to remember
This is the MTC move. Do not translate every word. Identify what the sentence is measuring.
The sentence is about several employees and what they are doing. Choose a number of.
The sentence is about one total employee count. Choose the number of.
Several customers made requests. Choose a number of.
One total count has changed. Choose the number of.
What to notice
This choice can appear in sentences about employees, applicants, customers, orders, complaints, visitors, branches, deliveries, and registrations.
The word immediately after both phrases can look the same. The useful signal comes from the sentence’s real focus.
The applicants are doing or having something. Think several applicants.
The total count has changed. Think one number.
Several deliveries experienced a delay.
One total count was lower.
Use the later signal
A useful second check can appear later in the sentence.
Look for are, were, have, or need
These can show that several people or things are acting. Choose a number of.
Look for is, was, has, or remains
These can show that the sentence is describing one total count. Choose the number of.
This can be a useful check, but read the complete sentence before committing. The main question remains: several items, or one total count?
Quick TOEIC check
Choose first. Then read the feedback. Use the quick check: several people or things, or one total count?
1. ___ employees have requested flexible working hours.
2. ___ customer complaints has fallen since April.
3. ___ delivery vehicles are currently being inspected.
4. ___ available seats is limited.
The mistake to avoid
Check a or the before focusing on the plural word after of. Then confirm whether the sentence describes several items or one total count.
Weak choice
Look only at employees, complaints, or orders and guess because the word refers to more than one item.
Better choice
Ask whether the sentence describes several items or the single total count of those items.
When this mistake returns under pressure
The two expressions differ by only one small word. Check a or the at the beginning of the phrase before moving to the business word.
Pause briefly at the beginning of the phrase. Then check the sentence’s later signal.
Strengthen the same quantity decision
Use these related lessons to separate individual people or things from one overall amount or count.
Use small TOEIC mistakes as a diagnostic
If you understand the answer during review but miss it under time pressure, the problem may be your decision pattern rather than the words alone.
Start with the Learning Block Diagnostic to see whether your mistakes connect to Speed Trap, Memoriser, Over Thinker, Translator, Passive Listener, or Burnout.
Continue reading
Use these pages to turn small TOEIC mistakes into faster decisions and better review.