Five cars were in the pileup on the freeway. Two of them were upside down. vs Five cars were in the pileup on the freeway. Two were upside down.

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. The first phrase 'two of them were upside down' is more specific and emphasizes that two out of the five cars were upside down. The second phrase 'two were upside down' is more general and simply states that two cars were upside down without specifying out of how many.

Last updated: March 22, 2024 • 2589 views

Five cars were in the pileup on the freeway. Two of them were upside down.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used when you want to specify that out of a group of items, a certain number of them possess a particular quality or state.

Examples:

Out of all the books on the shelf, three of them were written by the same author.
Among the students in the class, two of them were absent yesterday.
Of the ten apples in the basket, four of them were rotten.
In the group of friends, five of them were wearing blue shirts.
Among the various options, three of them were the most popular.

Show examples from the web [+]

We got a 10-car pileup on the freeway.
You just stay on the freeway.
I could be in a worse accident on the freeway.
I'm lost walking on the freeway.
Look at all those jack-knifed trucks on the freeway.
I'm still afraid to drive myself on the freeway.
You don't want to accidentally get on the freeway.
She was actually alive until the semi got on the freeway.
Walter, you sound like you're running on the freeway.
There won't be any cars on the freeway.
He can be in other cities with a quick ride on the freeways.
Sorry, Nana, traffic on the freeway.
A man with dementia is driving on the freeway.
-I'm getting on the freeway.
I just lost Tibbs on the freeway.
I hope the kids like selling fruit on the freeway.
Then there's a wreck on the freeway.
Tell me again why we didn't stop at that restaurant on the freeway.
Dump their body on the freeway.
There was a terrible accident on the freeway.

Alternatives:

five cars were in the pileup on the freeway. two were upside down.
five cars were in the pileup on the freeway. two cars were upside down.
five cars were in the pileup on the freeway. two vehicles were upside down.
five cars were in the pileup on the freeway. two of the cars were upside down.

Five cars were in the pileup on the freeway. Two were upside down.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used when you want to state a simple fact without specifying the exact number of items possessing a particular quality or state.

Examples:

There were ten students in the classroom. Two were absent.
The store had various types of fruits. Two were rotten.
In the garden, there were five flowers. Two were red.
At the party, there were three cakes. Two were chocolate.
Among the group of friends, there were four boys. Two were wearing hats.

Show examples from the web [+]

We got a 10-car pileup on the freeway.
You just stay on the freeway.
I could be in a worse accident on the freeway.
I'm lost walking on the freeway.
Look at all those jack-knifed trucks on the freeway.
I'm still afraid to drive myself on the freeway.
You don't want to accidentally get on the freeway.
She was actually alive until the semi got on the freeway.
Walter, you sound like you're running on the freeway.
There won't be any cars on the freeway.
He can be in other cities with a quick ride on the freeways.
Sorry, Nana, traffic on the freeway.
A man with dementia is driving on the freeway.
-I'm getting on the freeway.
I just lost Tibbs on the freeway.
I hope the kids like selling fruit on the freeway.
Then there's a wreck on the freeway.
Tell me again why we didn't stop at that restaurant on the freeway.
Dump their body on the freeway.
There was a terrible accident on the freeway.

Alternatives:

five cars were in the pileup on the freeway. two of them were upside down.
five cars were in the pileup on the freeway. two cars were upside down.
five cars were in the pileup on the freeway. two vehicles were upside down.
five cars were in the pileup on the freeway. two of the cars were upside down.

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Five cars were in the pileup on the freeway. Two of them were upside down. vs Five cars were in the pileup on the freeway. Two were upside down.