Very few VS a very few, only few VS only a few, only very few VS only a very few...
few VS a few, very few VS a very few, only few VS only a few, only very few VS only a very few, a only a few..
1. There are few people who can solve it.
2. There are a few people who can solve it.
3. There are very few people who can solve it.
4. There are a very few people who can solve it.
5. There are only few people who can solve it.
6. There are only a few people who can solve it.
7. There are only very few people who can solve it.
8. There are only a very few people who can solve it.
9. There are a only few people who can solve it.
10. There are a only a few people who can solve it.
11. There are a only very few people who can solve it.
12. There are a only a very few people who can solve it.
I know the difference between 1 and 2.
But,
[] What is the difference between 3 and 4?
[] What is the difference between 5 and 6?
[] What is the difference between 7 and 8?
[] What is the difference between 9 and 10?
[] What is the difference between 11 and 12?
Top answer
ThombD [] What is the difference between 3 and 4? They are both correct enough, and they mean the same thing, but "a very few" is rare in my US East Coast dialect, and it sounds quaint. ThombD [] What is the difference between 5 and 6?
- ThombD [] What is the difference between 3 and 4?
- They are both correct enough, and they mean the same thing, but "a very few" is rare in my US East Coast dialect, and it sounds quaint.
- ThombD [] What is the difference between 5 and 6?
- Number 5 is possible, I guess, but "only" sounds redundant with "few" to my mind.
- Number 6 is unremarkable.
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ThombD[] What is the difference between 3 and 4?
They are both correct enough, and they mean the same thing, but "a very few" is rare in my US East Coast dialect, and it sounds quaint.
ThombD[] What is the difference between 5 and 6?
Number 5 is possible, I guess, but "only" sounds redundant with "few" to my mind.
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