of a very few vs of very few

Both "of a very few" and "of very few" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Of a very few" is used when referring to a specific small number of things or people, while "of very few" is used to indicate a general scarcity or lack of something without specifying a particular number.

Last updated: March 23, 2024 • 959 views

This phrase is correct and is commonly used in English when referring to a specific small number of things or people.

"of a very few"

This phrase is used when you want to emphasize that there are only a small number of something or someone. It is often followed by a noun.

Examples:

He is one of a very few people who can solve this problem.
She is one of a very few students who received a scholarship.
This is one of a very few opportunities you will have to travel abroad.
The company is one of a very few that offer such a unique product.
It is one of a very few books that have been translated into multiple languages.

Show examples from the web [+]

whereas in the space of a very few hours a huge international campaign was mounted, including a petition calling for her immediate and unconditional release;
A man of very few words, ladies and gentlemen.
Adrian is famously a man of very few words.
So this area must be promoted on the basis of a few, very few, but solid and identifiable European political projects which deal with the real problems facing us, the first of which is Islamist terrorism.
But then Ruairi was a man of very few words, George.
I see you're a woman of very few words.
Well, me, I'm a man of very few principles, and they're all open to revision.
A very large proportion of developing countries are at present heavily dependent on the export of one or a very few raw materials such as coffee or cocoa.
In particular the high concentration of Internet traffic in a very few Internet Exchange Points (IXP) in some Member States presents an unacceptable risk.
The local authorities questioned saw their role as being purely that of implementers and only a very few said they take part in debates or in the procedures for transposing EU legislation into national law.
Previously relatively high tariffs will be totally dismantled within a couple of years, with the exception of a few very sensitive agricultural products.
It is characterised by the co-existence of a few very large and truly global players, a number of smaller and specialised producers and numerous highly efficient distributors and service centres.
The layer and its Red and Green and Blue histograms after Stretch Contrast. The pixel columns do not reach the right end of the histogram (255) because of a few very bright pixels, unlike White Balance.
The principle of the free movement of ideas, respect for competition and the rejection of the monopoly effect of patents, and finally the protection of individual inventors and small and medium-sized companies against the overwhelming might of a few very large corporations.
Very few foods contain vitamin D.
Very few CDM projects have been implemented in LDCs.
Very few true believers have remained.
Few, very few, Ricardo.
There are very few, extremely few causes worth dying for.
As I stated, there are very few amendments; but I would like to say a few words about one of them.

Alternatives:

one of the very few
among a very few
part of a very few
in a very few
belonging to a very few

This phrase is correct and is commonly used in English to indicate a general scarcity or lack of something without specifying a particular number.

"of very few"

This phrase is used when you want to convey that there is a small number of something without specifying the exact count. It is often followed by a noun.

Examples:

The store has of very few items left in stock.
She is one of very few people who can speak that language fluently.
The company has of very few employees who work remotely.
The school has of very few resources available for extracurricular activities.
The city has of very few parks for children to play in.

Show examples from the web [+]

In this context there is a need to boost pharmaceutical research, which in recent times has brought about the development of very few new antibiotics.
However, in view of the low import volumes from the Russian Federation and the numerous different types of SWR that exists, the price undercutting could only be established on the basis of very few identical product types with low volumes (19,9 tonnes).
It's one of very few places on earth where you can actually max a Bugatti Veyron.
Iran continues to find itself in the group of very few countries together with Afghanistan, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Nigeria, which still practise stoning.
A man of very few words, ladies and gentlemen.
Adrian is famously a man of very few words.
I'm afraid he's a peculiar man of very few words.
But then Ruairi was a man of very few words, George.
I see you're a woman of very few words.
That can be said of very few of our decisions in the European Parliament, anyway.
This situation is the result of the existing legal framework in Greece and the existence of very few companies providing such insurance cover, leaving Greek transport operators with no alternative options.
In many developing countries, land is an asset which is in the hands of very few people.
However, Tajikistan is one of very few countries on the EU's eastern border with which we have not yet concluded an overall agreement since the Cold War ended.
Same principle was pronounced in the name of Spain with the exemptions of very few changes to be implemented.
Well, me, I'm a man of very few principles, and they're all open to revision.

Alternatives:

only a very few
scarcely any
hardly any
a small number of
a limited number of

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