Vocabulary
Grammar
A2–B2
6 min read
Updated 10 June 2026
Quick answer: Use number with countable nouns: a large number of students. Use amount with uncountable nouns: a large amount of water. The most common mistake is “a large amount of people” — because people is countable, the correct form is “a large number of people.”
Comparison Table
| Word | Meaning | Part of Speech | Example |
|---|
| number | a quantity of countable items | noun | A large number of students passed the exam. |
| amount | a quantity of uncountable mass or substance | noun | A large amount of water was wasted. |
Using Number (with Countable Nouns)
Number is used when you are talking about things that can be counted individually — things that have a plural form and can appear with one, two, three… in front of them. If you can say one student, two students, three students, then use number to refer to that group.
A large number of tourists visit the city every summer.
The number of applications has increased this year.
A small number of errors were found in the report.
There were a surprising number of complaints.
Notice that the phrase a number of always takes a plural verb: A number of students are waiting outside (not is waiting). However, when number is preceded by the, the verb is singular: The number of applicants is growing.
Common Phrases with Number
- a number of (several; some)
- the number of (referring to a specific total)
- a large / small / growing number of
- an increasing number of
- in a number of ways
Using Amount (with Uncountable Nouns)
Amount is used when you are talking about things that cannot be counted individually — substances, qualities, or concepts that exist as a continuous mass rather than separate items. Examples of uncountable nouns include water, information, time, money, energy, traffic, homework.
A large amount of water is lost through evaporation.
We received an enormous amount of information.
A significant amount of time was spent on research.
She put a great amount of effort into the project.
The phrase an amount of takes a singular verb because the noun it refers to is uncountable and treated as a single mass: A large amount of data was collected.
Common Phrases with Amount
- an amount of (a quantity of something uncountable)
- a large / small / significant amount of
- a certain amount of (some degree of)
- any amount of (as much as needed)
- in equal amounts
The Countable / Uncountable Test
Not sure which word to use? Apply this quick test: ask yourself, “Can I put a number directly in front of this noun?”
Can you say three students? Yes → students is countable → use number.
Can you say three waters? No (not naturally) → water is uncountable → use amount.
Can you say three people? Yes → people is countable → use number, not amount.
Can you say three traffics? No → traffic is uncountable → use amount.
Memory Trick
Remember: number contains the word numb — like numbers on a page that you can count one by one. Amount sounds like a mount of something — a pile or mass that cannot be individually separated and counted. If it comes in a heap or flows like liquid, it is an amount. If it comes in individual pieces you could line up, it is a number.
Another trick: think of money. You say a number of coins (you can count coins: one coin, two coins) but an amount of money (you cannot count money as a mass — it is treated as uncountable in this sense).
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1 — Using amount with countable nouns
✗ A large amount of people attended the concert.
✓ A large number of people attended the concert.
Mistake 2 — Using number with uncountable nouns
✗ A great number of patience is needed.
✓ A great amount of patience is needed.
Mistake 3 — Wrong verb agreement with “a number of”
✗ A number of students is absent today.
✓ A number of students are absent today.
(But: The number of students is rising — “the number” takes a singular verb.)
Mistake 4 — Using amount with items (not mass nouns)
✗ We hired a large amount of employees this quarter.
✓ We hired a large number of employees this quarter.
Practice
Practise choosing between number and amount with these interactive exercises:
More Confusing Words
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between number and amount?
Number is used with countable nouns — things that exist as separate, individual items you can count: a large number of students, a number of errors, the number of pages. Amount is used with uncountable nouns — substances, qualities, or concepts treated as a continuous mass: a large amount of water, an amount of information, a certain amount of time. The key question is: can the noun be counted with one, two, three? If yes, use number. If no, use amount.
Is it “a large number of people” or “a large amount of people”?
The correct phrase is "a large number of people." People is a countable noun — you can say one person, two people, three people — so you must use number, not amount. "A large amount of people" is one of the most common grammar mistakes in English. The same rule applies to related words: a number of visitors, a number of customers, a number of voters.
Can you use amount with countable nouns?
Traditionally, no — standard grammar reserves amount for uncountable nouns. Using amount with countable nouns (e.g., "a large amount of problems") is widely considered incorrect in formal and academic writing. However, in informal speech, native speakers sometimes use amount with countable nouns, especially with abstract concepts or large collections seen as a whole. For exams and professional writing, always follow the rule: amount + uncountable, number + countable.
Does “a number of” take a singular or plural verb?
The phrase "a number of" takes a plural verb. This is because "a number of" functions like "several" or "some," and the focus is on the plural noun that follows: "A number of students are waiting outside." However, when the definite article "the" is used — "the number of" — the verb is singular because the focus is on the number itself as a concept: "The number of applications is rising." Remember: a number of = plural verb; the number of = singular verb.
Is money countable or uncountable? Should I say number or amount?
Money, as a general concept, is treated as an uncountable noun in English — so use amount: "a large amount of money." However, coins and notes (banknotes) are countable, so you would say "a number of coins" or "a number of banknotes." Similarly, you say "a number of pounds / dollars / euros" when referring to individual currency units, but "an amount of money" when referring to money as a mass concept. Context and the specific noun used determine the choice.
How is “amount” different from “quantity”?
Both amount and quantity can refer to how much of something there is, but they are used differently. Amount is used with uncountable nouns (an amount of water, an amount of time). Quantity can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns, and it is more common in formal, technical, or scientific contexts: "a quantity of goods" (countable) or "a quantity of liquid" (uncountable). In everyday English, number (countable) and amount (uncountable) are more natural; quantity tends to sound more technical or formal.
Is it “a large amount of work” or “a large number of work”?
The correct phrase is "a large amount of work." Work (as in tasks or effort) is uncountable in English — you cannot say "one work, two works" in this sense — so it takes amount, not number. Similarly: a large amount of homework (not a large number of homework), a large amount of progress (not a large number of progress), a large amount of damage (not a large number of damage). These are all uncountable nouns.
Can “number” be used without “of”?
Yes. Number can stand alone as a noun referring to a figure or numeral: "What is the number of pages in this book?" or "My phone number has changed." In this use it does not need "of" immediately after it. The construction "a number of" (meaning several) and "the number of" (meaning the total count of) are the specific phrases compared with amount. You would never say "the amount of students" — the correct form is always "the number of students."
Is it “a number of times” or “an amount of times”?
The correct phrase is "a number of times." Although time as a concept is uncountable (an amount of time), when you count individual instances or occasions, "times" becomes a countable plural noun: one time, two times, three times. So: "I have visited Paris a number of times" is correct. The same logic applies to related expressions: "on a number of occasions," "a number of attempts," "a number of visits."
Does this rule apply in American and British English?
Yes — the rule that number goes with countable nouns and amount goes with uncountable nouns applies equally in both American and British English. There is no regional difference here. Both varieties of English treat this as a standard grammar rule, and both would consider "a large amount of students" incorrect in formal writing. The only regional variation you might notice is that British English tends to be slightly stricter about enforcing the rule in formal registers.