来自牛津高阶英汉双解词典(简体) 第 8 版:
■ Student numbers in English language schools in this country INCREASED from 66 000 in 2008 to just over 84 000 in 2009.
这个国家英语语言学校的学生人数从 2008 年的 66 000 增长到 2009 年的 84 000 多一点。
■ Student numbers SHOT UP/ INCREASED DRAMATICALLY in 2009.
学生人数在 2009 年急剧增长。
■ The number of students INCREASED by almost 30% compared with the previous year.
学生人数与去年相比增长了近 30%。
前两个句子中为什么是用了numbers,这种复数形式?用单数行不行?
表示“人数”的意思时,使用 numbers 这种复数形式,不能用单数。例如:
“ 6 numbers [plural复数]how many people there are, especially people attending an event or doing an activity together [尤指参加某一活动的]人数:Can you give me some idea of members ? 你能告诉我一个大致的人数吗?/ student / client etc numbers Visitor numbers increase in the summer. 游客人数在夏季有所增加。/ Growth in undergraduate numbers has been ... 近来大学生数量的增长 ......” (摘自《朗文高级英语应试词典》英汉双解p.1608)