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 #2 (permalink) Thu Jul 21, 2011 20:42 pm Re: (a) few and little |
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Unadorned, "few" emphasises the smallness of the number (e.g. it was less than expected/desired/required); "a few" emphasises that there are some, albeit not a great number. However, because of the word "only", "only a few" is similar in emphasis to "few". I don't like "only few".
The other sentences look OK, though I would hyphenate "world-famous actress". |
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Dozy
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| #3 (permalink) Fri Jul 22, 2011 2:00 am (a) few and little |
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Hi Dozy, thanks for your reply. So may I correct my sentences and would you please be so kind as to give me your comments once more.
- He had few friends = He had only a few friends.
- After he'd squandered his entire fortune, he had few friends left/ or he had only a few friends left.
- Few people understood what he was saying = Only a few people understood what he was saying.
- Few people believed his story = Only a few people believed his story.
If I have understood your explanation then this is my solution. You see I'm writing a book in English, and if you always make sentences like :' He didn't have many friends.' I think it would become boring. Also if, as a writer, you want to emphasise something, sometimes 'few' and '(only) a few are necessary.
Would you please have a look at it again. You know how much I appreciate your comments and explanations.
Thanks
Alexandro
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Alexandro
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| #4 (permalink) Fri Jul 22, 2011 2:51 am (a) few and little |
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| Alexandro wrote: |
- He had few friends = He had only a few friends.
- After he'd squandered his entire fortune, he had few friends left/ or he had only a few friends left.
- Few people understood what he was saying = Only a few people understood what he was saying.
- Few people believed his story = Only a few people believed his story. |
Yes, they're pretty similar. I guess looking at the two side by side, the versions with "few" have a slightly stronger emphasis of smallness than the versions with "only a few". (Then there's a bigger gap in meaning to "a few", which emphasises "some" more than it emphasises "not many".) |
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Dozy
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| #5 (permalink) Fri Jul 22, 2011 3:56 am (a) few and little |
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Thanks Dozy, as usual you have helped me quite a great deal. To tell you the truth, I felt the same about the meanings of my sentences, but I needed confirmation. Yet, once more I got a very clear explanation of a wonderful expert. And I really mean that. Alan and all the other moderators should consider to make you a moderator as well. You're the grammarian par excellence! I only wonder what the word 'albeit' means and how it is used.
Again, thank you very much
Alexandro
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Alexandro
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| #6 (permalink) Sat Jul 23, 2011 18:18 pm (a) few and little |
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| Alexandro wrote: |
He had few friends = He had only a few friends.
Thanks
Alexandro |
He had almost no friends. |
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 E2e4
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