Difference few/a few

Question

Hello!I want to know the difference between "Few", "a few". "little" and "a little". I have some trouble with them. Thanks!!!

Philip · Accepted Answer

I have few problems (not very many, at all). I have a few problems that I'd like to discuss with you. (an unspecified amount)
I have little cash (not very much, at all). I have a little cash that I could lend you. (but not too much)

Fivejedjon · Answer

Welcome to the forum. Noelia. <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/63.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/63.gif' alt='Emotion: rose'/>

Hrsanei · Answer

Hi and welcome to English forum.
The use of an indefinite article "a" changes the connotation of your sentence.
a few means not many but enough.
Ex. There are a few people here that we can talk to. It indicates that the presence of few people would work fine.
Ex. There are few people here we cannot have a good sample. It indicates that the presence of few people would not work.

Ex. There is little sugar left, we cannot make a cake. Not much and not enough.
Ex. There is a little sugar left, we can make a cake. Not much but enough.

Hamid

Fivejedjon · Answer

hrsaneiThere are few people here we cannot have a good sample. It indicates that the presence of few people would not work.
Ex. There is little sugar left, we cannot make a cake. Not much and not enough.
Ex. There is a little sugar left, we can make a cake. Not much but enough.

I'm afraid I don't understand the sentence I have underlined, or the explanation.

In the two italicised sentences, we have a comma splice. A semi-colon or full stop (period) is required.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Noelia Ameneiros Hello!I want to know the difference between "Few", "a few". "little" and "a little". I have some trouble with them. Thanks!!!

Welcome to English Forums!

These can be very confusing!

The weather this summer was hot and dry. There are few apples on the trees to harvest. We will not have many to sell.

The weather this summer was wonderful. There were lots of apples on the trees, but they have been harvested for sale in the market. But I'll bet we can find a few apples left on the trees that we can eat!

AlpheccaStars · Answer

hrsaneia few means not many but enough.

I don't have the idea of "enough" with "a few." To me, it only means "some."

Hrsanei · Answer

Hi,

I'm afraid I don't understand the sentence I have underlined.

To have a good statistical sample, the number of sampled people need to be high enough. So you can't have a good sample with only few people.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

hrsanei So you can't have a good sample with only few people.

That is not correct English.

I think this is what you mean to say:
So you can't have a good sample with too few people.
or
So you can't have a good sample with only a few people.

Hrsanei · Answer

I don't have the idea of "enough" with "a few." To me, it only means "some."

Hi,
The difference between few and a few is in the attitude towards the quantity more than the quantity itself. While a few does not exactly mean "enough" but it helps the learner to have a better understanding of the two.

Ex. All I want is a few moments on my own. (few moments would be enough)
Ex. I have few moments on my own. (few moments are not enough)

In response to the original post, you did not provide any explanations but two examples. At least, I made an attempt to point out the core differences of two.
Hamid

Hrsanei · Answer

Hi,

That is not correct English.

According to which grammatical rule?

Difference few/a few

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