Difference between "few" and "a few"

[Fetch]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #80 "Some, any, few, little", question 6

No, I don't have any. But I have ......... apples, if you'd like to make apple juice instead.

(a) a little
(b) some
(c) any
(d) few

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #80 "Some, any, few, little", answer 6

No, I don't have any. But I have some apples, if you'd like to make apple juice instead.

Correct answer: (b) some

Your answer was: incorrect
No, I don't have any. But I have few apples, if you'd like to make apple juice instead.
_________________________

Could you please explain the difference between "few" and "a few"?

Fetch

[Alan]

Hi Fetch,

A few suggests not many as in: I have a few minutes to wait before I need to catch the train.

Few suggests that there are not as many as you would like as in: I have few minutes left to eat my sandwich before the train arrives.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Subjunctive