'Just' + 'few' or 'a few' or both?

I would use "just a few" in both your examples.

You forgot the -s in "steps."

HelaThe beach is:a) just a few / few minutes from here.
.................................b) a few / few steps away from here.

You can add 'just' or 'only' or nothing, as you wish, but you need 'a'.

Use one of these:

a few minutes from here
just a few minutes from here
only a few minutes from her

Thank you for your answers.

Now, is it possible to use "few" as a pronoun or should it always be used as a determiner? Can I start this sentence with "few of" or should I add "only / just a few of"?

1) Few of the students understood the lesson. Correct or incorrect ? = Few students understood the lesson. ?
2) Only / Just a few of the students understood t

Hela1) Few of the students understood the lesson. Correct or incorrect ? = Few students understood the lesson. ?2) Only / Just a few of the students understood the lesson. (= Only a few students... ?)

Both 1) and 2) are fine.

few of the = few
only a few of the = only a few
just a few of the = just a few

(Imagine each followed by 'stud