five of them

USAGE SUMMARY

'five of them' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to a group of five people, animals, objects, or other unspecified items that have been previously mentioned. For example: "I saw several cats on my walk - five of them were chasing a mouse."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Five of them sank.

The Economist

Five of them are Americans.

The New York Times - Sports

Reuters profiles five of them.

The New York Times

Five of them became homeless.

The New York Times

"Hamburgers", said five of them.

The New Yorker

Five of them are pregnant women.

The New York Times

Five of them were given life sentences.

Independent

The Giants have won five of them.

The New York Times - Sports

"Only five of them are really pests".

The New Yorker

There are now five of them.

The New Yorker

There are salads too, five of them.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "five of them" when you want to emphasize that a specific group of five is being singled out from a larger set.

Common error

Avoid using "five of them" if the larger group has not been explicitly mentioned or is unclear to the reader. This can lead to confusion and weaken your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "five of them" functions as a pronoun phrase, substituting for a specific group of five items or individuals previously mentioned in the context. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "five of them" is a versatile and grammatically sound pronoun phrase used to refer to a specific group of five within a larger context. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Its prevalence across news media, scientific publications, and formal business documents, as evidenced by examples from The New York Times, The Guardian, and others, demonstrates its widespread acceptance. To use it effectively, ensure that the reference group is clear to avoid ambiguity. Whether you're discussing rescued sailors, scientific findings, or items on a menu, "five of them" is a clear and concise way to specify a portion of a larger set.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

precisely five of them

Similar to 'specifically,' but with a connotation of exactness.

specifically five of them

Adds emphasis and precision to the selection.

a group of five of them

Reiterates the group aspect.

five out of them

Highlights the selection process more explicitly.

five among them

Emphasizes that the five are part of a larger group.

a quintet of them

Uses a more formal term for a group of five.

five from those

Slightly more detached and formal phrasing.

a handful of them

More casual way to indicate a small group of five.

five in number

Emphasizes the numerical quantity.

five individuals

Focuses on the individual entities within the group of five.

FAQs

How can I use "five of them" in a sentence?

You can use "five of them" to refer to five specific items or people from a previously mentioned group. For example, "I baked a dozen cookies, and "five of them" were chocolate chip".

What is an alternative to saying "five of them"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "a quintet of them", "five out of them", or "five among them".

Is it grammatically correct to say "five of them are"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Five of them" acts as a plural pronoun, so the verb "are" is the appropriate form.

What's the difference between "five of them" and "the five of them"?

"Five of them" refers to a selection from a larger group, while "the five of them" implies that the five are the entirety of the group being discussed. For example, if you have 10 apples and take five, it's ""five of them"". If you only have five apples and refer to all, it's "the five of them".