Verdict: in common use, several is often more than a couple and a few , though it is sometimes the same as both and occasionally more than a few . What does give me a few mean? to give a reprimand. 6 to award or attribute. to give blame, praise, etc. Click to see full answer. What is another word for few?
Full Answer
What is the difference between few and few?
– a few. 1. 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 show that you are talking about a small number of people or things.
What does “a few snacks” mean?
When we say “few”, we usually mean “a small number of ”. So if you buy a few snacks, you have just bought a small number of snacks. But when you refer to “few”, there is usually an emphasis on the “small” part. This might cause a problem since the term “small” is subjective. For me, a “few snacks” might be a whole banquet for you.
What does it mean to have a few friends?
When you use fewwithout '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 fewfriends', you are simply saying that you have some friends.
What is the meaning of'a few drinks'?
(preceded bya) a. a small number of: a few drinks. b. (as pronoun; functioning as plural): a few of you. 3. a good few informalseveral
When to use "a little" and "a few"?
We use of with (a) little and (a) few when they come before articles (a/an, the), demonstratives (this, that), possessives (my, your) or pronouns (him, them): …
What is the meaning of "less and fewer"?
We use the quantifiers less and fewer to talk about quantities, amounts and degree. Less and fewer are comparative words. …
What does "little" and "little" mean?
(A) little and (a) few are quantifiers meaning ‘some’. Little and few have negative meanings. We use them to mean ‘not as much as may be expected or wished for’. …
When to use "less" or "less"?
When we use fewer or less before articles (a/an, the), demonstratives (this , that), possessives (my , your) or pronouns (him, them), we need to use of. We use less of with singular nouns and fewer of with plural nouns: …
Is "a few" countable or countable?
A few is used with countable nouns. Compare small.
Why do we use "a few" and "a few"?
You use a few simply to show that you are talking about a small number of people or things.
What does "quite a few" mean?
2. quite a few , a fairly large number; many.
What does it mean when you say "a few friends"?
However, if you say 'I have few friends', you are saying that you do not have enough friends and are lonely.
What does "no many but more than one" mean?
1. not many but more than one: Few artists live luxuriously. n. 2. ( used with a pl. v.) a small number or amount: Send me a few. 3. the few, a special, limited number; the minority: music that appeals to the few. pron. 4. ( used with a pl. v.) a small number of persons or things. Idioms:
What does "less" mean?
1. Amounting to or consisting of a small number: one of my few bad habits. See Usage Note at less.
Who said there are only a few on this side of the Humber?
In the beginning of one of them Alfred says, "There are only a few on this side of the Humber who can understand the Divine Service, or even explain a Latin epistle in English, and I believe not many on the other side of the Humber either.
What does "determiner" mean?
determiner. 1. a. a small number of; hardly any: few men are so cruel. b. ( as pronoun; functioning as plural ): many are called but few are chosen. 2. ( preceded by a) a. a small number of: a few drinks. b. ( as pronoun; functioning as plural ): a few of you. 3. a good few informal several. 4. few and far between.
What is a few in grammar?
Grammar. Few is a quantifier used with plural countable nouns. Without the article “a,” few emphasizes a small number of something. Adding the article removes the emphasis— a few means some. The same rule applies to little, which is used with singular uncountable nouns.
When to use "a few and a little"?
To make it easier, you could think about it as you would about the proverbial glass of water—you use few and little when you want to point out that the glass is half empty (there’s little water in the glass) and you use a few and a little when you want to point out that the glass is half full (at least there’s some of it).
Why do we use grammarly?
Grammarly can save you from misspellings, grammatical and punctuation mistakes, and other writing issues on all your favorite websites. Be the best writer in the office. When it comes to few and little, adding an “a” can change the meaning of the sentences in which they appear.
What does "quite a few" mean?
The exception to these usage rules is a few in the phrase quite a few. That phrase is used to indicate the opposite of a few. Quite a few means a lot:
Can adding an a change the meaning of a sentence?
When it comes to few and little, adding an “a” can change the meaning of the sentences in which they appear. The change is subtle, however, so it can be easily missed.
What does "few days" mean in the Bible?
The King James Bible uses "few days" to mark out the span of a person's life compared to eternity; the excerpt from The Egypt Game seems to be referring to the small number of days that have passed since the visitor arrived and the narrative present. In neither case can you definitely say that few refers to a number between, say, 3 and 10.
Who said "but could still be many"?
but could still be many: Several young Men at the Universities, terribly possessed with the fear of Pedantry, run into a worse Extream. — Jonathan Swift, A proposal for correcting, improving and ascertaining the English tongue, 1712. The many meaning is now primarily a dialectal use, fortunately.
When did "Several" come into existence?
Several Usage and History. Several came into English in the 1400s, but didn't develop its quantity meanings until the 1500s. ( Several initially meant "distinct or separate" in English.) Yes, meanings: several originally referred to more than one. They be but one heire, and yet severall persons.
What does "few" mean in a sentence?
When we say “few”, we usually mean “a small number of ”. So if you buy a few snacks, you have just bought a small number of snacks. But when you refer to “few”, there is usually an emphasis on the “small” part. This might cause a problem since the term “small” is subjective.
What does "quite a few" mean?
It is kind of strange how “quite” means “a bit”. Therefore “quite a few” should mean less than a few. But this is not how languages work in reality.
What does “A few days” mean?
Generally speaking, when most people say “few days”, it will be more than 2, but less than 10 days. However, overall, the term “few” is subjective. What might count as a “few” to one person could actually be a lot to another?
How long is a few days?
Usually, when people say “a few days”, they mean between 2 and 10 days . It’s one of those terms that doesn’t really have a set in stone definition, yet, most people who speak English generally know what you mean when you say it. “A few days” isn’t there to let you know exactly how long something will take.
Is "few" a number?
The term “few” is not like words like a dozen, as there is no specific number that means “few”. Today, we’ll look at what “a few days” means and when this kind of vague terminology might be helpful.
Is "a few days" a specific term?
Although the term “a few days” isn’t super specific, there are times when it can be useful. When we don’t know exactly how long something will take, by saying “a few days”, we are at least giving some indication of time scale.
What does "some" mean?
What Does Some Mean. Some is a quantifier that can be used as a determiner and a pronoun. It is used to refer to an unspecified number or amount, i.e., it can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. For example,
Can you use "a few" or "some"?
If you want water, I can give you some. Although both few and some refer to an unspecified number, some generally refer to a greater number than few. For example, you can use few is there are less than 5 people or things, and some can be used to describe more than 5 things. It is also important to notice that some has other meanings ...
