You use a few to indicate that you are talking about a small number of people or things. You can also say a very few.
I gave a dinner party for a few close friends.
We had a few drinks afterwards.
Here are a few more ideas to consider.
She was silent for a few seconds.
Few is also a pronoun.
Doctors work an average of 90 hours a week, while a few are on call for up to 120hours.
A strict diet is appropriate for only a few.
Few is also a quantifier.
There are many ways eggs can be prepared; here are a few of them.
...a little tea-party I'm giving for a few of the teachers.
2. adjective
You use few after adjectives and determiners to indicate that you are talking about a small number of things or people.
The past few weeks of her life had been the most pleasant she could remember.
The leaders are expected to seal the agreement in the next few days.
...in the last few chapters.
A train would pass through there every few minutes at that time of day.
3. determiner
You use few to indicate that you are talking about a small number of people or things. You canuse 'so', 'too', and 'very' in front of few.
She had few friends, and was generally not very happy.
Few members planned to vote for him.
Very few firms collect the tax, even when they're required to do so by law.
Few is also a pronoun.
The trouble is that few want to buy, despite the knockdown prices on offer.
...a true singing and songwriting talent that few suspected.
Few is also a quantifier.
Few of the beach houses still had lights on.
Few of the volunteers had military experience.
Few is also an adjective.
...spending her few waking hours in front of the TV.
His memories of his father are few.
4. singular noun
The few means a small set of people considered as separate from the majority, especially because they share a particular opportunity or quality that the others do not have.
This should not be an experience for the few.
...a system built on academic excellence for the few.
5.
See as few as
6.
See few and far between
7.
See a good few
8.
See have a few too many
9.
See no fewer than
More Synonyms of few
English Easy Learning GrammarDeterminersDeterminers are words that make the reference of nouns more specific. If I say ‘thiscar’ it is clear that I mean a particular car which is near me. If ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarNoun phrases with several determinersMost noun phrases contain only one determiner or none at all, but if there are more,they follow a definite order. Determiners can be divided into four ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarQuantifiersQuantifiers are used to indicate the amount or quantity of something referred to bya noun. They are different from numbers because they indicate an approximate ... Read more
few in British English
(fjuː)
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 will progress to the next round
3. a good few
4. few and far between
5. have a few
6. not a few
noun
7. the few
▶ USAGE See note at less
Derived forms
fewness (ˈfewness)
noun
Word origin
Old English fēawa; related to Old High German fao little, Old Norse fār little, silent
few in American English
(fju)
adjective
1.
not many; a small number of
few seats were left, a few people came
pronoun
2.
not many; a small number
many left, few stayed; a few of the men are wearing hats
Idioms:
few and far between
the few
▶ USAGE: See the note at less
Derived forms
fewness (ˈfewness)
noun
Word origin
ME fewe < OE feawe, feawa, pl., akin to OFris fē, Goth fawai, pl. < IE base *pōu-, small, little > L paucus, Gr pauros, little
Examples of 'few' in a sentence
few
Claims that such systems make pets anxious and scared mean few owners use them.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Probably for a good few years yet.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Home celebrations began with the last few singles still out on the course.
The Sun (2016)
You will need to appoint a few people as executors of your will.
The Sun (2016)
Get those last few away to the compost heap or tucked up under shrubs.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is set to close a further three acquisitions in the next few months.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Demand for this style of investment has grown considerably in the past few years.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She would stop for a few seconds and then bite again.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The faces grow older, the numbers are fewer and the memories fade.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They keep plaque at bay and brighten teeth after a few uses.
The Sun (2009)
There are a few good laughs here.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They have certainly earned these last few weeks of unbelievable memories.
The Sun (2016)
You need to pay fewer people more.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They were just a few feet away.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But crunch a few numbers and things get more interesting.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They are now expected within the next few weeks.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The police have suffered a good deal of criticism in the past few years.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
You could save a few pounds in a few seconds.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We captured a few small ones and took samples from them and then put them back.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
She appears to have had few close friends.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The reaction was similar to the one when we found remains a few days ago.
The Sun (2008)
Lower heat and simmer for a few minutes.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They felt he allowed few opportunities to use their abilities.
Christianity Today (2000)
The arrangement lasted only a few weeks.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Very few people are instinctively good at maths.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She lives a few hundred yards away from my flat.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The show is set to be piloted in the next few weeks.
The Sun (2009)
It is understood the five men were all recalled into custody within the past few months.
The Sun (2009)
They are then asked questions by people they have only seen before for a few seconds.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
There may be a few small acne scars from adolescence.
Brumberg, Elaine Take Care of Your Skin (1990)
Only a few people close to me have had anything happen.
Stanko, Elizabeth Everyday Violence (1990)
Only a few days left of our least favourite month.
The Sun (2013)
With few hard numbers to go on, investors have to rely on guesswork and emotion.
John Cassidy DOT.CON (2001)
In other languages
few
British English: few /fjuː/ DETERMINER
A few means some, but not many.
She gave me a few sweets.
American English: few
Arabic: بِضْعَة
Brazilian Portuguese: poucos
Chinese: 不多的
Croatian: malobrojan
Czech: málo
Danish: få
Dutch: enkele
European Spanish: poco
Finnish: harva
French: peu
German: wenige
Greek: λίγος
Italian: pochi
Japanese: 少しの
Korean: 약간의
Norwegian: få
Polish: niewielu
European Portuguese: poucos
Romanian: câțiva
Russian: немногие
Latin American Spanish: pocos
Swedish: få inte många
Thai: น้อย
Turkish: birkaç
Ukrainian: кілька
Vietnamese: ít số lượng
British English: few /fjuː/ PRONOUN
You use a few to refer to a small number of things or people.
The doctors are all busy and a few work more than 100 hours a week.
American English: few
Arabic: قَلِيل مِن
Brazilian Portuguese: poucos
Chinese: 几乎没有
Croatian: nekolicina
Czech: několik
Danish: få
Dutch: een paar
European Spanish: pocos
Finnish: muutama
French: quelques-uns
German: wenige
Greek: λίγοι
Italian: pochi
Japanese: 少数
Korean: 적은
Norwegian: noen få
Polish: mało
European Portuguese: poucos
Romanian: câțiva
Russian: некоторые
Latin American Spanish: pocos
Swedish: få
Thai: จำนวนน้อย
Turkish: birkaç
Ukrainian: декілька
Vietnamese: một vài
All related terms of 'few'
the few
a small number of people considered as a class
few quid
A quid is a pound in money.
few thing
You can use thing to refer to any object, feature , or event when you cannot, need not, or do not want to refer to it more precisely .
as few as
You use as few as before a number to suggest that it is surprisingly small.
chosen few
→ the chosen few
not a few
several
a good few
You use not a few when you are referring to quite a lot of things or people. You can also use a good few in this way, mainly in British English.
have a few
to consume several ( or too many) alcoholic drinks
few exceptions
An exception is a particular thing, person, or situation that is not included in a general statement , judgment , or rule.
of few words
not talkative
the chosen few
a small group who are treated better than other people
catch a few zeds
to have a nap
say a few words
to give a brief speech
sb of few words
A person of few words says very little, especially about their opinions or feelings.
few and far between
Things that are few and far between are very rare or do not happen very often.
have a few too many
If you say that someone has had a few too many or has had a few , you mean that they have drunk too many alcoholic drinks.
of many (or few) words
talkative (or not talkative)
precious little/precious few
If you say that there is precious little of something, you are emphasizing that there is very little of it, and that it would be better if there were more. Precious few has a similar meaning.
quite a few (or bit, etc.)
more than a few (or bit , etc.)
the chosen few/a chosen few/someone's chosen
The chosen few are a small group who are treated better than other people. You sometimes use this expression when you think this is unfair .
in a few etc minutes'/days'/weeks' etc time
If you say that something will happen , for example , in a week 's time or in two years ' time , you mean that it will happen a week from now or two years from now.
Chinese translation of 'few'
few
(fjuː)
adj
(= not many) 少数(數)的 (shǎoshù de)
⇒ She has few friends.她的朋友不多。 (Tā de péngyou bùduō.)
a few (= some) 几(幾)个(個) (jǐ gè)
⇒ She has a few friends.她有几个朋友。 (Tā yǒu jǐ gè péngyou.)
pron
a few (= some) 几(幾)个(個) (jǐ gè)
⇒ Many of us tried and a few succeeded.我们中的许多人都试了，只有几个成功了。 (Wǒmen zhōng de xǔduō rén dōu shì le, zhǐyǒu jǐ gè chénggōng le.)
(= not many) 很少几(幾)个(個) (hěn shǎo jǐ gè)
⇒ Many of us tried but few succeeded.我们中的许多人都试了，但很少几个成功了。 (Wǒmen zhōng de xǔduō rén dōu shì le, dàn hěn shǎo jǐ gè chénggōng le.)
in the next few days在接下来(來)的几(幾)天里(裡) (zài jiēxiàlái de jǐ tiān li)
in the past few days在过(過)去的几(幾)天里(裡) (zài guòqù de jǐ tiān li)
every few days/months每几(幾)天/几(幾)个(個)月 (měi jǐ tiān/jǐ gè yuè)
a few of us/them我们(們)/他们(們)中的几(幾)个(個) (wǒmen/tāmen zhōng de jǐ gè)
a few more再多几(幾)个(個) (zài duō jǐ gè)
very few survive极(極)少幸(倖)存 (jí shǎo xìngcún)
a good few or quite a few相当(當)多 (xiāngdāng duō)
as few as竟少到 (jìng shǎodào)
they are few and far between他们(們)简(簡)直是凤(鳳)毛麟角 (tāmen jiǎnzhí shì fèng máo lín jiǎo)
few 和 a few 都用在可数名词的复数形式之前，但意义不同。例如， I have a few friends 表示肯定含义，表示你有一些朋友。然而， I have few friends 表示否定含义，即你几乎没有朋友。
All related terms of 'few'
a few
( some ) 几(幾)个(個) jǐ gè ⇒ She has a few friends. → 她有几个朋友。 Tā yǒu jǐ gè péngyou.