the number of people that matters.

[ademoglu]

Hi,

- However, that is not just the number of people that matters.

I tried to create such a sentence. I think it is OK to use 'matters', but not matter, because 'that matters' is related to the number, am I right?

 

[Tarheel]

Say:

However, it is not just the number of people that matters.
​

(I don't have any context for that, so I don't know if it really makes sense or not.)

 

[MikeNewYork]

Without more context, I agree with you.

 

[TheParser]

'that matters' is related to 'the number', am I right?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Hello, Ademoglu:

Your question fascinated me, so I did some research. I believe that the following comments are accurate.

1. "It is not just the number of people that / which matters."

a. Yes, in modern English, you may say that the antecedent of "that" or "which" in your sentence is "the number." Therefore: "The number matters."
b. In older English, that would NOT be the explanation for using "matters." But you come here to learn English as it is analyzed in 2014, so I shall not comment further on this sentence.

2. Now look at this sentence that I have made up:

"The number of people who / that matter is 4,562."

a. The antecedent of who / that is "people." Therefore, we must use the base form (no "s").


James