Which one is correct?
"There are only a few" or "There is only a few"?

Question

Which one is correct?
"There are only a few" or "There is only a few"?

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This phrase is used to indicate that there is a small number of something. 'Few' is used with plural verbs, so 'are' is the correct verb to use in this context.

Examples:

There are only a few apples left in the basket.
There are only a few students in the classroom.
There are only a few clouds in the sky.
There are only a few books on the shelf.
There are only a few days left until the deadline.

Alternatives:

There are just a few
There are only a couple
There are only a handful
There are only a small number of
There are only a limited number of

The correct phrase is 'there are only a few.' 'Few' is used with plural verbs, so 'are' is the correct verb to use in this context. 'There is only a few' is incorrect because 'few' requires a plural verb.

Last Updated: March 21, 2024