adj. 很少的;很少;(与复数名词和复数动词连用)有些;几乎没有的
pron. 很少;有些(人、事物、地方);(与复数动词连用)少数人;不和…一般多
n. 很少数;
从用法上看,few和a few后面要接可数名词的复数形式;从意义上看,few 用来强调小数目的否定意义,相当于说“很少”或“几乎没有”,它的含义是该数目令人失望或令人吃惊的小。如:
Few people like snakes. 很少有人喜欢蛇。
I know few of them. 他们当中我几乎不认识什么人。
a few的意思与few不同,它没有否定含义,它表示“有几个”,有时甚至还表示“一些”。如:
After a few tries they gave up. 试过几次之后他们就放弃了。
当要与一段时间连用时,我们总是用a few,不用few。如:
We need a place where we can stay for a few days. 我们需要一个能住几天的地方。
另外,还要注意not a few和quite a few这两个短语,不要误认为它们是反义词,其实它们几乎是同义词,都可表示“不少”“相当多”的意思。如:
Not a few of the members were absent. 不少会员未出席。
Quite a few of us are worried. 我们不少人很着急。
1. I have tried to pack a good deal into a few words.
我尽量言简意赅。
2. The economy remains deep in recession with few signs of a pick-up.
经济仍深陷衰退之中,几乎没有好转的迹象。
3. Few would argue that this team has experience and proven ability.
这个队伍的丰富经验和表现出来的实力是众所公认的。
4. A few are dim-witted drones, but most are talented, frustrated, wasted people.
有几个是愚笨的寄生虫,但是大多数是有才能却不得志而自暴自弃的人。
5. He sweeps up and does a few odds and ends.
他扫完地,又干了几样杂活儿。
6. Police corruption is not just a few rotten apples.
警方的腐败不仅仅是几个害群之马造成的。