a few

Meanings

1. 1determinerbefore a noun

   A small number of people or things, more than one or two but not many, often suggesting enough.

   Grammar: Goes before a plural countable noun: a few days; use a little with uncountables, not a few.

   Patterns

   • a few + plural noun
   • a few of the + plural noun
   • a few more + plural noun
   • quite a few + plural noun

   We invited a few neighbors over for coffee.

   She saved a few dollars each week for the trip.

   A few minutes of quiet helped him focus.

2. 2pronounplural

   Used without a following noun to mean a small number of people or things already mentioned.

   Grammar: Stands alone for a known plural count noun: A few were late; contrast A few students were late.

   Patterns

   • a few were ...
   • a few of them/us
   • only a few

   The buses were crowded, but a few had empty seats.

   I asked for volunteers, and a few of them offered to help.

   Many applied, yet only a few passed the first round.

Common combinations

quite a few

Quite a few people stayed after the meeting to ask questions.

a few of the

A few of the answers were surprisingly detailed.

a few more

Could we wait a few more minutes for the train?

Synonyms and how they differ

several

Slightly more formal or neutral, and can suggest a somewhat larger small number than a few.

some

Less specific about amount and often used when the exact number does not matter.

a couple

Strictly means two, though informally it can loosen to mean a few; a few is safer for three or more.

a number of

More formal and vaguer, common in writing when no exact count is needed.

Opposites

Word family

few determiner

Without a, it often sounds negative: Few came means almost none came.

fewer determiner

Comparative used with countable plural nouns: fewer emails, not less emails.

Commonly confused: a few or few? a few or a little?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “a few”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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