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I have read that dozen, hundred, thousand etc. have no -s and of when they are used after a numerical, a few or several : Three dozen eggs. A few hundred times, Several thousand years. But with some and many, they take -s, and of is used : Some/many dozens of mangoes.

THERE ARE SOME SIMILAR TYPES OF QUESTIONS IN THIS FORUM, BUT THEY DON'T CLARIFY THE FOLLOWING (PARTICULARLY MY 2ND QUESTION) GIVEN BELOW : 1. "Three dozen eggs" is correct; but "three dozen of eggs" is not correct. Why? 2. "Some/many dozens of eggs" is correct; but "A few/several dozens of eggs" is incorrect. Why? I am really confused. Could anyone of you please clarify my queries with brief & precise grammatical explanation.

Sandip Kumar Mandal
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  • Does this answer your question? ["Four dozen" or "Four dozens"](https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/71408/four-dozen-or-four-dozens) – ColleenV Apr 30 '20 at 13:02
  • In #2, I would not say that "some/many dozens of eggs" is correct. Understandable, but does not sound natural. – Justin Apr 30 '20 at 13:06
  • Does this answer your question? [Why is there no plural 's' after "hundred" or "thousand" in cardinal numbers?](https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/38635/why-is-there-no-plural-s-after-hundred-or-thousand-in-cardinal-numbers) – JavaLatte Apr 30 '20 at 13:08
  • Why is it wrong to say "A few/Several dozens of mangoes"? – Sandip Kumar Mandal Apr 30 '20 at 13:12
  • 'Some/Many dozens of mangoes" --is it correct or not? Why? – Sandip Kumar Mandal Apr 30 '20 at 13:14
  • Your called out question in the second paragraph is misleading. Neither *three **dozen** of eggs* **nor** *three **dozens** of eggs* is grammatical. You also seem to be asking several different questions. Or at least it's not clear what specific question you are asking. I would focus on a single thing with a single example. – Jason Bassford Apr 30 '20 at 16:22

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Collins Dictionary says: The plural form is dozen after a number, or after a word or expression referring to a number, such as 'several' or 'a few'.

We usually use dozen without of unless the 12 items are being selected from a particular group - a dozen eggs, but a dozen of your freshest eggs. There's no use asking why; that's just the way it is.

We say dozens of meaning a lot. I think many dozens of mangoes implies an indeterminate number, but for a specific number we would say ten dozen mangoes.

Kate Bunting
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