millions or million?

Serzige · Mon Mar 10, 2008 20:08 pm *millions or million?*

Hey guys...
I just didn't get my teacher's explanation about "Millions and million". He said that when talking about money "YOU MUST SAY two or three Million of dollars" and regarding people YOU MUST SAY "Millions of people". However, I've seen some ads that show phrases like "you will win millions if you do this or that"....and that's MONEY, isn't? So, whom should I believe to? I hope a fine clarification on it.

Thanks in advance...
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Sergio M.
"Life is too short to grieve in sorrow"

Torsten · Mon Mar 10, 2008 21:15 pm *millions or million?*

Hi Serzige,

Your teacher's explanation is right. If there is a number before 'million' it's just the singular. In your ad there is no number so that's why it's 'millions'.

Let me know if this makes sense to you.

Thanks,
Torsten
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Serzige · Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:56 am *millions or million?*

so, if I say two MILLIONS DOLLARS, that's wrong, not only that but TWO MILLIONS PEOPLE is right, isnt'? That's what I get from your argument so that I am right, aren't I?
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Sergio M.
"Life is too short to grieve in sorrow"

Torsten · Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:52 am *millions or million?*

If there is a number before the word 'million' it's used in the singular form. In the phrase 'two million people' there is the number 'two' before 'million' so you need the singular here.
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ched133 · Wed Mar 12, 2008 3:28 am *millions or million?*

On a separate note, which is correct?

There is 2 million dollars on the table
There are 2 million dollars on the table

Thanks

Torsten · Wed Mar 12, 2008 11:04 am *millions or million?*

Well, none of both sentences is entirely correct because they don't end with a full stop Smile

.
Joke aside, both are correct. The first one refers to an amount of money while the second says how many individual dollars are on the table. Obviously, the first one would be used much more frequently.
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ched133 · Wed Mar 12, 2008 16:53 pm *millions or million?*

Hi

Thank you! another question though.

What situation will make sense to say "there are 2 million dollars on the table"
I want to know when you can say money in the plural form

another example,

there is 60 points scored tonight vs there are 60 points scored tonight

Alan · Wed Mar 12, 2008 21:38 pm *millions or million?*

Hi,

'There are 60 million dollars' means just that. Physically/literally/factually lying on the table are dollar notes in presumably different denominations and if you added them all up, the total would be 60 million.

As for your second point, I would phrase the comment as: 60 points have/has been scored tonight.

Alan
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ched133 · Wed Mar 12, 2008 21:48 pm *millions or million?*

so "is" or "are" is used for emphasis

If there is a one hundred dollar bill on the table i can never say "there are $100 on the table" because there is only 1 denomination

If there are many bills making up $100, i might say "there are $100 on the table" to emphasize you might need to recount them or something like that.........is this right?

Alan · Wed Mar 12, 2008 21:54 pm *millions or million?*

Hi ched133,

I think you have received enough from us now to be able to work this out.

Alan
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Serzige · Thu Mar 13, 2008 0:56 am *millions or million?*

Hey Alan and Torsten...
I've just realized that in the first post I wrote "Two Million OF people" and in the second I've written "Two Million People". Which one is right?
_________________
Sergio M.
"Life is too short to grieve in sorrow"

Torsten · Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:41 am *millions or million?*

There are twenty-two million people in this country.
Two million of them speak Farsi as their first language.
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