English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
FEW or A FEW?
~A few~ people came for the event and that really destabilized the host (nonstandard).
*Few* people came for the event and that really destabilized the host (standard).
Few and a few are used with countable nouns. Few means very small number and it carries a negative meaning, while a few has a positive meaning although it also means a small number.
I have got ~few~ yams so you can have one (nonstandard).
I have got *a few* yam so you can have one (standard).
She’s got ~a little~ rice so I’m not sure she can help you (nonstandard).
She’s got *little* rice so I’m not sure she can help you (standard).
Little and a little are used for uncountable nouns. Like the first pair, little has a negative connotation, while a little is used in the positive sense.
I’ve got ~little~ beans so you come join me for dinner (nonstandard).
I’ve got *a little* beans so you can come join me for dinner (standard).
GAB
