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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | feawa |
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few S1 W1
comparative fewer, superlative fewest
comparative fewer, superlative fewest1 [no comparative] a small number of things or people
a few I have to buy a few things at the supermarket. Pam called to say she's going to be a few minutes late. There were a few people sitting at the back of the hall.
I have to buy a few things at the supermarket.Pam called to say she's going to be a few minutes late.There were a few people sitting at the back of the hall.2 a fairly large number of things or people : She must have cooked a good few dinners over the years.
quite a few/a good few/not a few
She must have cooked a good few dinners over the years. quite a few/a good few/not a few of There were hundreds of protesters, not a few of whom were women.
There were hundreds of protesters, not a few of whom were women.3 not many or hardly any people or things [≠ many]: low-paid jobs that few people want Many people expressed concern, but few were willing to help. The team that makes the fewest mistakes usually wins.
low-paid jobs that few people wantMany people expressed concern, but few were willing to help.The team that makes the fewest mistakes usually wins. few of
the few The cathedral was one of the few buildings not destroyed in the war. This hospital is one of the few that are equipped to provide transplant surgery.
The cathedral was one of the few buildings not destroyed in the war.This hospital is one of the few that are equipped to provide transplant surgery.4 used to emphasize that a number is large : I tried to contact him no fewer than ten times.
no fewer than
I tried to contact him no fewer than ten times.5 used to emphasize how surprisingly small a number is : Sometimes as few as 20 out of 500 or more candidates succeed in passing all the tests.
as few as 5/10 etc
Sometimes as few as 20 out of 500 or more candidates succeed in passing all the tests.6 used when you are mentioning only a small number of people or things as examples of a large group : This is a feature of languages such as Arabic, Spanish and Portuguese, to name but a few.
to name/mention but a few
This is a feature of languages such as Arabic, Spanish and Portuguese, to name but a few.7 the small number of people who are treated better than others and have special advantages : Such information is made available only to the chosen few. The needs of the many have been ignored - instead, the priority has been to bring benefits only to the few.
the (privileged/chosen) few
Such information is made available only to the chosen few.The needs of the many have been ignored - instead, the priority has been to bring benefits only to the few.WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE:
a few, few, a little, little, a bit, fewer, lessa few and few are used before plural nouns.a few means 'a small number' • It will take a few minutes. • I've got a few friends who live nearby.few means 'not many'. It emphasizes how small the number is. It is mainly used in writing or formal speech • Few people would deny her talent. • He has few interests outside his work. In spoken English or informal writing it is more usual to say not many • Not many people saw what happened. a little and little are used before uncountable nouns.a little means 'some, but not a lot' • We still have a little time left. In spoken British English, it is more usual to say a bit • 'Are you tired?' 'A bit.' • I've got a bit of money left.little means 'not much'. It emphasizes how small the amount is. It is mainly used in writing or formal speech • There is now little hope of success. In spoken English or informal writing it is more usual to say not much • There was not much milk left. The comparative of few is fewer • Few people have read the book, and even fewer understand it. The comparative of little is less • We know little about his adult life, and less about his childhood.!! Sometimes people use less before a plural noun, but many people think that this is incorrect, so it is better to use fewer • a village of fewer (NOT less) than 200 inhabitants
WORD CHOICE: a few, few, a little, little, a bit, fewer, lessa few and few are used before plural nouns.a few means 'a small number' • It will take a few minutes. • I've got a few friends who live nearby.few means 'not many'. It emphasizes how small the number is. It is mainly used in writing or formal speech • Few people would deny her talent. • He has few interests outside his work. In spoken English or informal writing it is more usual to say not many • Not many people saw what happened. a little and little are used before uncountable nouns.a little means 'some, but not a lot' • We still have a little time left. In spoken British English, it is more usual to say a bit • 'Are you tired?' 'A bit.' • I've got a bit of money left.little means 'not much'. It emphasizes how small the amount is. It is mainly used in writing or formal speech • There is now little hope of success. In spoken English or informal writing it is more usual to say not much • There was not much milk left. The comparative of few is fewer • Few people have read the book, and even fewer understand it. The comparative of little is less • We know little about his adult life, and less about his childhood.!! Sometimes people use less before a plural noun, but many people think that this is incorrect, so it is better to use fewer • a village of fewer (NOT less) than 200 inhabitants
