a few

a few
adjective
more than one but indefinitely small in number (Freq. 138)
-

a few roses

-

a couple of roses

• Syn: ↑a couple of
• Similar to: ↑few

* * *

phrasal
chiefly dialect : to some degree or extent : a little

we'd already made out that he could ride a few — Smart Set

* * *

a few
1. A small number (of), used as a noun, or virtually a compound adjective
2. Also facetiously as an adv, a little
• • •
Main Entry: ↑few

* * *

◊ used in front of nouns
Few and a few are both used in front of nouns, but they do not have the same meaning.
\
You use a few simply to indicate that you are talking about a small number of people or things. When you use few without `a', you are emphasizing that there are only a small number of people or things of a particular kind.
\
So, for example, if you say `I have a few friends', you are simply saying that you have some friends. However, if you say `I have few friends', you are saying that you do not have enough friends and are lonely.

A few children were playing in the road.

Few children will be able to cope with the long journeys.

They may have a few books on the shelf.

There were few books in Grandfather's study.

\
◊ used as pronouns
Few and a few can be used in a similar way as pronouns.

Each volunteer spent one night a week in the cathedral. A few spent two.

Many are invited but few are chosen.

\
◊ 'not many'
In conversation, people do not usually use few without `a'. Instead they use not many. For example, instead of saying `I have few friends', people usually say `I haven't got many friends' or `I don't have many friends'.

They haven't got many good players in their side.

I don't have many visitors.

\
You do not use few or a few when you are talking about a small amount of something. You do not say, for example, `Would you like a few more milk in your tea?' You say `Would you like a little more milk in your tea?' See entry at ↑ little - a little.
\

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • few — W1S1 [fju:] determiner, pron, adj comparative fewer superlative fewest [: Old English; Origin: feawa] 1.) [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… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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  • few — ► DETERMINER , PRONOUN , & ADJECTIVE 1) (a few) a small number of. 2) not many. ► NOUN (the few) ▪ a select minority. ● few and far between Cf. ↑few and far between …   English terms dictionary

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