Amount or Number?

It seems that many speakers of English

Appeared to succumb to slumber

When English lessons were taught regarding

The words "amount" and "number."

 

Large amounts of time. Correct.

Large amounts of rice.

"Amount" refers to something seen

As a mass, to be precise.

 

But when we refer to things we can count,

"Number" should be used.

For some reason, English speakers

Often get confused.

 

A large number of people, we say,

Vote in our elections.

Or a number of germs out there

Can cause major infections.

 

A large amount of people? No!

Do not go there, please.

But it's quite all right to request

A small amount of cheese.

 

"Beans" is one of those funny words

Often used as a mass:

I ate a large amount of beans,

And boy, do I have gas!

 

It really shouldn't be too hard

If you know how to count

To know how to distinguish between

"Number" and "amount."

-by Bob B (4-1-22)