Few, A Few, The Few, Very Few, Very Little
Welcome to another English lesson on ENNglish.com! In this blog post, we’ll demystify the correct usage of the terms “Few,” “A Few,” “The Few,” “Very Few,” and “Very Little.” By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of these often-confusing terms.
Understanding the Terms
1. Few
“Few” implies a small number and is often used with a negative connotation, suggesting scarcity. Example:
Example: Few people attended the meeting, which was disappointing.
2. A Few
“A Few” is positive and means not many, but enough. It conveys a sense of adequacy.
Example: I have a few friends who can help me with this project.
3. The Few
“The Few” emphasizes a specific group of people or things and often conveys exclusivity.
Example: The few who participated in the discussion made valuable contributions.
4. Very Few
“Very Few” intensifies the scarcity, emphasizing how little there is.
Example: Very few students passed the difficult exam.
5. Very Little
“Very Little” is used for uncountable nouns and signifies a small amount.
Example: There is very little water left in the tank.
Interactive Grammar Test
Test your knowledge and reinforce what you’ve learned. Take the quiz here!
