few people vs a few people

Both phrases are correct, but have different meanings. "Few people" implies a small number of people, often with a negative connotation of scarcity or lack. On the other hand, "a few people" indicates a small but noticeable number of people, with a positive or neutral connotation.

Explained by Miss E.
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: July 17, 2024 • 54313 views

few people

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate a small number of people, often with a negative connotation of scarcity or lack.

Use "few people" when you want to emphasize the smallness of the number of people, usually in a negative context. For example, "Few people attended the meeting due to the bad weather."

Examples:

Few people showed up for the event.
There are few people who can solve this problem.
Few people understand the complexity of the situation.
The restaurant had few people dining in tonight.
Few people have the skills required for the job.

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: November 22, 2024

Jul 6, 2024 ... "very few people" would play a Morrowind-style open world nowadays, as teams need to "support" two kinds of players · Comments Section.
Dec 9, 2023 ... In this context, few by itself would convey the sense of only. So Only few people came sounds a bit odd. The most natural, at least in ...
Jul 8, 2024 ... 'Very few' people would play a Morrowind-style RPG with 'no compass, no map' and a reliance on quest text, says ESO director, 'which is kind of sad'
Being Alone has a Power that Very few People can Handle. Sorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos. When I was diagnosed with cancer, I was afraid ...
7 days ago ... America's Homes Are Piggy Banks That Few People Can Afford to Raid · Only a minority of mainly older homeowners are in a position to take ...
Aug 29, 2024 ... I moved to a sleepy town with few people my age. My new friends – some elderly – have changed my life. This article is more than 2 months old.
Transfer just a few people from one tree to another? Help · Mihle November 10, 2020, 8:10pm 1. Whats the best way to transfer like 6 ish people from one ...
Aug 20, 2017 ... My mother passed from cancer in November 2020 and because of the pandemic very few people showed up. I still feel the sting of injustice at ...
Sep 25, 2024 ... Few people know what they like about work, and if they do, HR teams don't know about it. Consider The PX Test: A Snapshot of Organizational Health.
Jun 12, 2022 ... 824 likes, 74 comments - katkinsman on June 12, 2022: "I always forget that very few people see me with my hair down and tend to be ...

Alternatives:

a small number of people
a limited number of people

a few people

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate a small but noticeable number of people, with a positive or neutral connotation.

Use "a few people" when you want to highlight that there is a small but sufficient number of people, often in a positive or neutral context. For example, "A few people volunteered to help with the project."

Examples:

A few people attended the party.
There were a few people waiting in line.
A few people have already completed the survey.
Only a few people know the secret.
A few people have expressed interest in the program.

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: October 24, 2024

Dec 9, 2023 ... In the cited context, few must unquestionably be preceded by the indefinite article... 1: The concert wasn't popular. Only a few people came.
3 days ago ... A few people were interested in how I created the truss under my rails in my previous post, here's how I do it. Guide.
Feb 11, 2020 ... 2M likes, 196K comments - danbilzerian on February 11, 2020: "Gonna fly a few people out for @ignite party on Thursday, tag your crew".
May 8, 2024 ... A few people told me this reminded them of Xenoblade Chronicles. What do you guys think? Just a piano song I wrote~. Original Fanart.
Oct 13, 2020 ... What Is Love? I Asked A Few People ... Do you want to know what's funny to me? There's never really a “last” goodbye, is there? Only unsuspecting ...
There are a few people who need to hear this. Wiping down the stove and countertops is a part of washing the dishes.
Transfer just a few people from one tree to another? Help · Mihle November 10, 2020, 8:10pm 1. Whats the best way to transfer like 6 ish people from one ...
Aug 9, 2023 ... A Few People I Talk To Think Yellow Ladybugs are Bad? · There are many species of yellow ladybugs, like 14 spotted and 22 spotted ladybugs.
Apr 23, 2023 ... Yes, it is correct to say "a few people." "A few" means a small number, and it is often used to describe a group of people or things.

Alternatives:

some people
several people

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few people vs a few people

few people

a few people

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