The number of people invited___ fifty ,but a number of them ___absent for different reason.

题目

The number of people invited___ fifty ,but a number of them ___absent for different reason.

答案

is are 两个用法都是表示很多的意思,一般修饰的是可数名词
记住the number of后边加的是单数动词,也就是动词的单三形式,但是a number of后边的是动词的复数形式,也就是原型.
这个用法和
He is the only people who is invited.
He is the people who are invited.
【前一句子中有only来修饰people,后一句子中没有only来修饰,区别聚在这里】
有点相识,一起来记忆的话,比较容易.