"a few hours" vs "few hours"

Question

"a few hours" vs "few hours"

Both "a few hours" and "few hours" are correct, but they have different meanings and usage. "A few hours" indicates a small, indefinite quantity of hours, while "few hours" implies a negative sense of scarcity or lack of time. The choice between them depends on the context and the intended meaning.

Last Updated: March 23, 2024

Use "a few hours" when you want to express a small, unspecified number of hours. It implies that there are some hours available, but the exact number is not specified.

Examples:

I'll be back in a few hours.
She spent a few hours reading a book.
It will take a few hours to complete the task.
We chatted for a few hours.
He slept for a few hours.

Alternatives:

several hours
a couple of hours
a handful of hours
a small number of hours
a limited number of hours

Use "few hours" when you want to convey that there is a shortage of hours or a limited amount of time available. It implies a sense of insufficiency or constraint.

Examples:

I have few hours left to finish the project.
There are few hours of daylight in winter.
She has few hours to spare for leisure activities.
He has few hours of sleep each night.
We have few hours before the deadline.

Alternatives:

limited hours
scant hours
insufficient hours
scarce hours
not many hours

Answer 1

a few hours

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate a small, indefinite quantity of hours.

Answer 2

few hours

This phrase is correct and is used to indicate a negative sense of scarcity or lack of time.

"a few hours" vs "few hours"

a few hours

few hours

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