0
Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
a few or few
Hi,
I think someone in the forum said to refer to something happening presently, you have to use "few". Likewise, are there different implications for each of these?
Ex.
a few questions
few questions - referring to something occurring presently?
I think someone in the forum said to refer to something happening presently, you have to use "few". Likewise, are there different implications for each of these?
Ex.
a few questions
few questions - referring to something occurring presently?
Top answer
A few = several Few = not many
- A few = several Few = not many
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
4 Answers
0
0
Sorry, but I am confused. Don't they mean the same thing? I mean "several" and "not many" mean the same thing right? So, when do you use "a few" and when do you use just "few"? Are they interchangeable?
00
No, "several" can be positive, or neutral at the worst. "Not many" sounds like you're sorry there were not more of them.
"Although it was raining, a few people showed up at the burial" (+)
"Because it was raining, few people showed up at the burial" (-)
"Although it was raining, a few people showed up at the burial" (+)
"Because it was raining, few people showed up at the burial" (-)
00
Let me add some more examples.
He has few friends. => The number of his friends is very little, he almost has no friends (not enough).
He has a few friends. => The number of his friends is little but "enough", he has several friends.
Concerning Pieanne's examples, I understand them in this way.
Although it was raining, a few people showed
He has few friends. => The number of his friends is very little, he almost has no friends (not enough).
He has a few friends. => The number of his friends is little but "enough", he has several friends.
Concerning Pieanne's examples, I understand them in this way.
Although it was raining, a few people showed
0
Related Questions