few

/fjuː/ (bre, ipa) · [fjˈu] /fjuː/ (ame, ipa) · [fjˈu] /ˈfyü/ (ame, mw)

few — determiner

1. used before a plural countable noun, usually as 'a few', to indicate a small amo

1.限定詞A2
釋義

used before a plural countable noun, usually as 'a few', to indicate a small amount that is still more than zero.

例句

Elise packed a few sandwiches for the train ride home.

a few + plural noun for a small available amount

Christopher stayed a few minutes after class to ask a question.

a few + time period

同義詞
  • some

    more general and less focused on the small size of the number.

  • a handful of

    more informal and often suggests a very small group.

  • several

    often suggests a slightly larger number than 'a few'.

反義詞
  • many

    a large number rather than a small one.

  • numerous

    more formal and clearly larger in quantity.

文法句型

a few + plural noun

a few more + plural noun

用法筆記

Usually appears as 'a few' and often feels neutral or mildly positive because it suggests that some amount is available. Distinguish from sense 2, where bare 'few' emphasizes shortage.

常見錯誤

❌I need a few information before I decide.
✅I need a little information before I decide.
💡'a few' is used with plural countable nouns, not uncountable nouns.
❌We have few cookies, so everyone can take one.
✅We have a few cookies, so everyone can take one.
💡'a few' means some are available, while bare 'few' suggests shortage.

2. used before a plural countable noun to show that the number is lower than expect

2.限定詞A2
釋義

used before a plural countable noun to show that the number is lower than expected or lower than wanted.

例句

Few buses run after midnight in this part of town.

few + plural noun for limited availability

Few students knew the answer until Hiro drew a diagram.

同義詞
  • not many

    plain paraphrase with the same negative idea.

  • hardly any

    stronger and closer to almost none.

  • scarce

    more formal and usually used as an adjective about limited supply.

反義詞
  • many

    a large number, without the idea of shortage.

  • plenty of

    shows there is more than enough.

文法句型

few + plural noun

very few + plural noun

用法筆記

Often carries a negative tone because it suggests shortage or disappointment. Use this sense when the low number matters, not just when you are counting a small amount.

常見錯誤

❌Few sugar was left after dinner.
✅Little sugar was left after dinner.
💡'few' is only used with plural countable nouns.
❌A few students understood the joke.
✅Few students understood the joke.
💡use bare 'few' when you want the negative idea of 'not many'.

3. used in phrases such as 'quite a few' to say the number is larger than people ma

3.限定詞B1
釋義

used in phrases such as 'quite a few' to say the number is larger than people may first assume.

例句

Quite a few parents stayed after the game to thank the coach.

quite a few + plural noun

We've had quite a few emails about the new school rule.

同義詞
  • many

    close in quantity, but less conversational than 'quite a few'.

  • a good number of

    similarly suggests a larger total than expected.

  • plenty of

    usually suggests an even more comfortable abundance.

反義詞
  • only a few

    returns to the idea of a genuinely small number.

文法句型

quite a few + plural noun

a good few + plural noun

用法筆記

Most often appears with modifiers such as 'quite' or 'a good'. Without those modifiers, bare 'few' usually keeps the negative meaning in sense 2.

常見錯誤

❌Quite a few rain fell this morning.
✅Quite a bit of rain fell this morning.
💡'quite a few' needs plural countable nouns.
❌Few people came, but quite a few means almost none.
✅Few people came, but quite a few means many more than you might expect.
💡the phrase reverses the negative idea of bare 'few'.

few — pronoun