來自牛津高階英漢雙解詞典 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.

這個國家英語語言學校的學生人數(shù)從 2008 年的 66 000 增長到 2009 年的 84 000 多一點。



■ Student numbers SHOT UP/ INCREASED DRAMATICALLY in 2009.

學生人數(shù)在 2009 年急劇增長。



■ The number of students INCREASED by almost 30% compared with the previous year.

學生人數(shù)與去年相比增長了近 30%。



前兩個句子中為何是用了numbers，這種復數(shù)形式？用單數(shù)行不可以？



表示“人數(shù)”的意思時，用 numbers 這種復數(shù)形式，不可以用單數(shù)。比如：

“ 6 numbers [plural復數(shù)]how many people there are, especially people attending an event or doing an activity together [尤指參加某一活動的]人數(shù)：Can you give me some idea of members ? 你能告訴我一個大致的人數(shù)嗎？/student / client etc numbers Visitor numbers increase in the summer. 游客人數(shù)在夏天有所增加。/ Growth in undergraduate numbers has been ... 近來大學生數(shù)目的增長 ......” （摘自《朗文高級英語應試詞典》英漢雙解p.1608）