a large number of sth
fixed phr..fixed phr.. This phrase just means 'many'. You use it before a plural noun to talk about a lot of people or things.
fixed phr.. a quantifier phrase meaning 'many', used to indicate a large but unspecified quantity
A large number of people attend the festival.
A large number of students applied for the scholarship, but only a few were selected.
A large number of factors contributed to the economic downturn, making it difficult to isolate a single cause for the crisis.
Applies to plural countable nouns.
Contrast 'a large number of' (for countable nouns) with 'a large amount of' or 'a great deal of' (for uncountable nouns).
A large number of equipment was delivered.A large amount of equipment was delivered.'Equipment' is an uncountable noun, so it requires a quantifier like 'amount', not 'number'.