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The Japanese population is about 130 million.

hirashin

Sempai
Donor
8 Apr 2004
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Dear native English speakers,
I have several questions to ask you about. (Does this sound right?)

Q1 Which would be used?
1a) The population of Japan is about 130 million.
1b) The Japanese population is about 130 million.
1c) Japanese population is about 130 million.
1d) The Japan's population is about 130 million.
1e) Japan's population is about 130 million.
1f) Japan has a population of about 130 million.
1g) Japan has the population of about 130 million.

Q2 Which would be used?
2a) The ages of the students range from fifteen to eighteen.
2b) The age of the students ranges from fifteen to eighteen.
2c) The students' ages range from fifteen to eighteen.
2d) The students' age ranges from fifteen to eighteen.
 
Q1:1a, 1b, 1d, 1e, 1f

Q2: Honestly, I'm not entirely confident in my answer. I think 2a and 2c are the only correct ones, but I feel like I would use 2b more readily despite that.
 
Q1:1a, 1b, 1d, 1e, 1f

Disagree with you on 1d - I think that one is incorrect.

In fact, b is controversial though grammatically correct.
The population of Japan is 127 million but the Japanese population is 125 million. It depends on whether you want to include foreign people or not - the Japanese government excludes all 2 million of us in population statistics.

In some countries (e.g.,. Qatar) the difference between the two measures would be very large.

For 2, I prefer a and c.
 
Thanks for the help, Lothor. I didn't notice that "the population of Japan" and "the Japanese population" are different from each other.

Both Julimaruchan and Lothor prefer 2a and 2c. So I think we should use 2a and 2c.
 
Thanks for the help, Lothor. I didn't notice that "the population of Japan" and "the Japanese population" are different from each other.

You would notice if you did not statistically exist despite being a permanent resident having a wife and two children with Japanese citizenship!
 
Lothor, how long have you been living in Tokyo if I may ask? Do you like living in the city?
 
Since 2003. Don't like big cities much - too many people, too noisy and long commutes - and I always avoided living anywhere near London when I was in Britain, so the answer is 'not really'.
 
Thanks for the reply, Lothor. Why do you live in Tokyo, then, if I may ask? Is it because of your job?
 
1a) The population of Japan is about 130 million.
Saying it this way would work best if written or in a formal situation.
1b) The Japanese population is about 130 million.
This works best in an informal situation.
1c) Japanese population is about 130 million.
Japanese is a plural noun, so you need an article before it (the)
1d) The Japan's population is about 130 million.
No need for the article the
1e) Japan's population is about 130 million.
This works in both informal and formal situations. Best all around in my opinion.
1f) Japan has a population of about 130 million.
Saying it this way would work best if written or in a formal situation.
1g) Japan has the population of about 130 million.
No need for the article the before population
 
Thanks for the help, Alex. I saw your profile. Does "USA/Slovakia" mean that you are an American who is studying in Slovakia?
 
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