difference betwen few, a few, a lot, etc.

[Fewy]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #113 "Postcard: Appointment", question 7

I know there are a ......... clocks at the station.

(a) lot
(b) number
(c) few

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #113 "Postcard: Appointment", answer 7

I know there are a few clocks at the station.

Correct answer: (c) few
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can u give the meaning of few, a lot, many and bit ?
thank u

[Torsten]

You can take the few/little/some/a few/a little test.

In addition, you should read how to improve your writing skills.

Many thanks,
Torsten

TOEFL listening lectures: What is the professor's opinion of Ragwort?

[Alan]

Hi,

'A few' not many as in: You've only made a few mistakes.
'A lot' many as in: I'm afraid this isn't very good because you have made a lot of mistakes.
'Many' is the same as a lot and can be used as above. I think you mean 'a bit' which means some of/ a piece of/not much as in: I understood most of the lesson and there was only a bit (not much).

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Watie]

Dear my teacher..

Could you explain to me about "a number/number"?
Thanks.

[Aliraf62]

Hi Watie
I guess you mean 'a number of' vs. 'number';
'A number of' something is an unknown quantity of something and usually signifies abundance:

You will have to do it in your career a number of times (several times)

number is a figure that represents a quantity (1,3,234 etc.)
In mathematics you deal with numbers.

Keep up the good work!
Ali

[Grasi02]

[Shopgirl]

"correct sentence:
I know there are a few clocks at the station.

Correct answer: (c) few

Your answer was: incorrect
your sentence:
I know there are a lot clocks at the station."

i am SORRY but I can't agree with this answer.If I consider the sense of the sentence where the speaker indicates that the listener may get confused with other clocks, so he is giving details of the clock so that the other person would not miss it. if there were few clocks then there would be less chances to miss it.

[Beeesneees]

Hi Shopgirl,

I'm afraid you are confused at the meaning.
Some is less than 'a lot', but is still at least three or four.

I know there are a few clocks = I know there are some clocks.
The speaker wants to ensure that the listener knows which of the clocks.

'a lot clocks' doesn't make sense. The sentence would need to be ... a lot of clocks, but there is no 'of'.

some - an indeterminate number, usually three or more.
a lot of - an indeterminate number, but a considerable amount.
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Cheers m' dears!

[Shopgirl]

'a lot clocks' doesn't make sense. The sentence would need to be ... a lot of clocks, but there is no 'of'.
now that makes a sense. But still can't get happy with the 'few'......
When there are chances to get confused by anyone, we usually don't explain the location using the word few / some .
thanx anyways..!!

[Alan]

Hi Shopgirl,

To go back to the original test sentence - this is a conversation and the speaker is trying to explain which of the clocks under which they should meet. By using 'a few' the speaker is agreeing that there is more than one clock.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms