| 释义 |
a few
few a few1. used in front of nounsFew 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. I'm having a dinner party for a few close friends.Here are a few ideas that might help you.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. There were few resources available.2. used as pronounsFew and a few can be used in a similar way as pronouns. Doctors work an average of 90 hours a week, while a few work up to 120 hours.Many were invited but few came.3. 'not many'In conversation and in less formal writing, people don't 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 books.I don't have many visitors.Be Careful!
Don't use 'few' or 'a few' when you are talking about a small amount of something. Don't 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 little - a littleThesaurus| Adj. | 1. |  a few - more than one but indefinitely small in number; "a few roses"; "a couple of roses"a couple offew - a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by `a'; a small but indefinite number; "a few weeks ago"; "a few more wagons than usual"; "an invalid's pleasures are few and far between"; "few roses were still blooming"; "few women have led troops in battle" |
Translationsfew (fjuː) adjective, pronoun not many; a very small number of. Few people visit me nowadays; every few minutes (= very frequently); Such opportunities are few. 很少的 很少的a few a small number (emphasizing that there are indeed some). There are a few books in this library about geology; We have only a few left. 少數 少数few and far between very few. Interesting jobs are few and far between. 稀少 稀少
few means `not many'.
a few means `some'.
see also less. a few
a few1. A non-specific but relatively small number (of people or things). The actual number can vary greatly depending on what is being discussed. Can be used as a noun or adjective. When "a few" is used in the phrase "quite a few," it refers to a significant amount. A: "How many people came over last night?" B: "Oh, just a few. It was a pretty quiet night." If the tickets are $5, I won't have enough. I only have a few dollars left.2. Quite a significant or large amount. An ironic usage of Definition 1. Regrets? Oh, I've had a few, honey.See also: fewa fewA small number of persons or things. This phrase can differ slightly from few used alone, which means "not many." For example, The party was to end at eight, but a few stayed on indicates that a small number of guests remained, whereas The party began at eight, and few attended means that hardly any guests came. [Late 1200s] Also see quite a bit (few). See also: fewEncyclopediaSeefewa few
Synonyms for a fewadj more than one but indefinitely small in numberSynonymsRelated Words |