English Phrase of the Day

Definitions

English > English
a few
1. det. A small number of; More than two.
2. pron. A small number of things.
Regrets, I've had a few, but then again too few to mention.
Analysis
a
1. art. One; any indefinite example of; used to denote a singular item of a group.
There was a man here looking for you yesterday.
2. art. Used in conjunction with the adjectives score, dozen, hundred, thousand, and million, as a function word.
I've seen it happen a hundred times.
3. art. One certain or particular; any single.Brown, Lesley, (2003)
few
1. det. (preceded by another determiner) An indefinite, but usually small, number of.
I was expecting lots of people at the party, but very few (=almost none) turned up.   Quite a few of them (=many of them) were pleasantly surprised.   I don't know how
2. det. (used alone) Not many; a small (in comparison with another number stated or implied) but somewhat indefinite number of.
There are few people who understand quantum theory.   Many are called, but few are chosen.
3. det. (meteorology of clouds) (US?) Obscuring one eighth to two eighths of the sky.

Example Sentences

You've had a few too many.  We had a few thoughts on that.  They look at each other for a few moments.  We've had a few reports.  Just a few more classes, and I'm out.

Review previous phrases