What's the difference between 'few' and 'a few'? Improve your grammar with this free one-minute English class. Watch the video and tell us: Which of these sentences means 'I know the town very...
The meaning of FEW is not many persons or things. How to use few in a sentence.
(A) little and (a) few are quantifiers meaning ‘some’. Little and few have negative meanings. We use them to mean ‘not as much as may be expected or wished for’. …
Most commonly, we do this by using terms like a few, a couple, and several. A lot of people have strong opinions about what each of these terms means—and what it doesn’t.
few (comparative fewer or less, superlative fewest or least) There are a few cars (=some, but a relatively small number) in the street. Quite a few people (=a significant number) were pleasantly surprised. I think he's had a few drinks. (This usage is likely ironic.) The few cheapest hotels I could find are the farthest too.
In English, a little, little, a few, and few are used to describe small amounts of something, but they are used differently depending on whether the noun is countable or uncountable. Understanding these words will help you communicate more accurately when talking about quantities.
Do you know how to use a few, few, very little and a bit of? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.
Few and a few are both used in front of nouns, but they do not have the same meaning. You use a few simply to show that you are talking about a small number of people or things. I'm having a dinner party for a few close friends. Here are a few ideas that might help you.