After a great many loud explosions, the race began.
a great many of+复数名词。
这里为何不加of?
a great many 这个词组，之后加不加 of 均可。
不加of 说明它是限定词。加了 of 说明它是代词，而且of 后面的名词需要是特指：加the 或其他限定词，of 后面接宾格代词。比如：
a great many books （限定词）
a great many of the books （代词）
a great many of theses books （代词）
a great many of my books （代词）
a great many of them （代词）
a great many of books （误）
a great many of 的例句：
1. A great many of the bees died, and he did not find the queens.
去世了不少蜜蜂, 他却找不出蜂后。
来自辞典例句
2. A great many of new physics phenomena appear in final results.
在最后的结果中,大家发现有不少新的物理现象出现。
3. He has read a great many of the books in this room.
这房间的书他好多都读过了。
4. A great many of us went to the movie yesterday.
大家很多人昨晚去看了电影。
5. Now a great many of them are out of work.
目前他们当中很多人都失业了。
6. A great many of the flowers were white.
那些花多数是白色的。
7. A great many graduates have found jobs.
毕业生中不少人已经找到了工作。
