Question

There are about twenty of us, men and boys, working here in the valley.
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Q1 What is the relationship between 'us' and men and boys'? Does 'men and boys' mean 'about twenty' or 'us'?

Q2 What does the previous sentence mean, #1 or #2?

1. There are about twenty of us, men and boys, who work here in the valley.

2. There are about twenty of us, men and boys, who are working here in the valley.

Answer 1

"men and boys" makes up an appositive and is detailing what is meant by "us."

This sentence and both sentences in Q2 mean the same thing.

Answer 2

Thank you for your help. Does the sentence mean there are about twenty workers all together? Or about twenty of how many people?