a number of和the number of的区别有谓语动词不同、中心词不同、修饰词不同等等。
一、谓语动词不同
1、the number of的谓语动词要用动词单数。
2、而a number of的谓语动词要用动词复数。
二、中心词不同
1、the number of的中心词是number。
2、而a number of的中心词是该短语后面所接的复数名词。
三、修饰词不同
1、the number of的修饰词是名词的单数，表示的是数量。
2、而a number of的修饰词是名词的复数。
The number of造句：
1、The number of students increased.
2、The number of initiators meets the quorum.
3、The number of Greek immigrants keeps growing.
4、Print run: The number of copies printed.
5、The number of cases of assault or the number of assault on policemen is increasing
6、The number of ligands attached to the central ion is called the coordination number.
7、The number of yams per 10 cm influences the length of the float along with the number of harnesses.
8、The number of occurrences of frequently used column values.
9、The number of directors should not exceed half of the number of the whole members or member representatives.