Few, little
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Few, little
Few和little都可表达'少量的':
• Little和a little放在不可数名词前:
• Little和a little放在不可数名词前:
Philip has little time for his wife and kids. 菲利普有很短时间陪他的妻儿。
Will you have a little milk with your tea? 你想给你的茶里面加一点牛奶吗？
I get by with a little help from my friends. 在我朋友的小小帮助下，我处理好了。
You insulted him a little bit! 你骂了他一下！
• Few和a few放在可数名词前:
Few people know the true story of Horatio's youth. 很少人知道霍雷肖年轻时真实的故事。
The Pope called me a few days ago. 教皇几天前给我打电话了。
There are very few elephants left in the area. 在这个地区只剩下很少几头大象了。
The few of you who did not finish their paper, please go see the principal. 你们这几个没写完论文的，请去见校长吧。
注意: little和few分别与much和many意义相对。
注意little/few和a little/a few的不同:
• 没有冠词时,这两个词表达了非常少的数量，经常偏向于否定义('not much', 'hardly any'几乎没有);
• 带冠词a,这两个词表达了少量含义:
• 没有冠词时,这两个词表达了非常少的数量，经常偏向于否定义('not much', 'hardly any'几乎没有);
• 带冠词a,这两个词表达了少量含义:
I have little money. 我几乎没有钱。
I have a little money. 我有一点钱。
I have a little money. 我有一点钱。
Bruno has few contacts in the White House.布鲁诺在白宫没人。
Bruno has a few contacts in the White House. 布鲁诺在白宫里有点人脉。
Bruno has a few contacts in the White House. 布鲁诺在白宫里有点人脉。
Polly has little patience for womanizers like Philip Cheeter. 宝莉对像菲利普-迟特这样玩弄女性的人没有耐心。
练习 1
Icarus has noticed that there are mistakes in Philip Cheeter's latest sales report. The errors are not very significant, but it frustrates Icarus that very people in the office are as attentive to detail as himself.
Icarus has noticed that there are a few 1 mistakes in Philip Cheeter's latest sales report. The errors are not very significant, but it frustrates Icarus a little 2 that very few 3 people in the office are as attentive to detail as himself.
1 a few: Because 'mistakes' is a countable noun, we use 'a few' to describe it.
1 a little: We only use 'a little' to qualify uncountable nouns. Because 'mistakes' is a countable noun, we cannot use 'a little' to describe it. However, we could say 'Philip made a little mistake in his sales report' which would express that Philip made a 'small' or 'minor' mistake.
2 a little: 'A little' is the best choice here. It describes Icarus' frustration. When we use adjectives such as 'frustrated' we use 'a little' to qualify the adjective. In this sense, the adjective functions as an uncountable idea.
2 a few: We cannot use 'a few' to describe Icarus's frustration. We consider adjectives such as 'frustrated' to be 'uncountable' ideas, and therefore we should use 'a little' to qualify the adjective.
2 few: We cannot use 'few' to describe 'frustration' because it is an uncountable noun.
2 little: We should describe Icarus as 'a little frustrated'. The article 'a' should precede 'little' in this case.
3 few: Because 'people' is a countable noun, we use 'few' to describe it.
3 a few: We cannot use 'a few' in this case because of the adverb 'very'. We must drop the article 'a' and say 'few people'.
3 a little: We only use 'little' to qualify uncountable nouns. Because 'people' is a countable noun, we cannot use 'little' to describe it.
3 little: We only use 'little' to qualify uncountable nouns. Because 'people' is a countable noun, we cannot use 'little' to describe it. Although 'little' is grammatically correct here, using it here describes the stature of the people in the office.
练习 2
Kevin Connors has minutes of free time before his meeting with his Chinese contact, Mei-Tsing Lee. Because he has time to spare, he turns on the radio to hear the scores of the rugby match between Ireland and France.
Kevin Connors has a few 1 minutes of free time before his meeting with his Chinese contact, Mei-Tsing Lee. Because he has little 2 time to spare, he turns on the radio to hear the scores of the rugby match between Ireland and France.
1 a few: As a rule, we use 'few' instead of 'some' when referring to units of time: a few hours, a few days, a few years. It's an exception, and one of the reasons we have to learn English for a few years to master it!
1 little: We only use 'little' to qualify uncountable nouns. Because 'minutes' is a countable noun, we cannot use 'little' to describe it.
1 some: Even though it's possible to use 'some' with plural countable nouns (Example: I have some cakes), we don't use 'some' with units of time.
2 little: We use 'little' to describe uncountable nouns like 'time'. Note that 'time' is considered an uncountable noun whereas 'times' (as in 'a few times') is considered a countable noun.
2 few: We only use 'few' to qualify countable nouns. Because 'time' is an uncountable noun, we cannot use 'few' to describe it.
2 a lot: 'A lot' is generally followed by 'of' to describe a large amount of something. It does not make sense here.
练习 3
A hours ago, I received a call from my friend, the President. He told me that everything was going well at the White House, and if I had a free time, I should come over and play ping-pong with him and the other politicians some time.
A few 1 hours ago, I received a call from my friend, the President. He told me that everything was going well at the White House, and if I had a little 2 free time, I should come over and play ping-pong with him and the other politicians some time.
1 few: Because 'hours' is a countable noun, we must use 'a few' to describe it.
1 little: We only use 'little' to qualify uncountable nouns. Because 'hours' is a countable noun, we cannot use 'little' to describe it.
2 little: We use 'little' to describe uncountable nouns like 'time'.
2 few: Because 'time' is an uncountable noun, we cannot use 'few' to describe it.
练习 4
'Before we end this meeting, I would like to make points:
1. I need volunteers to help me prepare for next week's press conference.
2. We have very information about that new perfume store which just opened. Someone should do research.
3. That's it. Let's eat!'
1. I need volunteers to help me prepare for next week's press conference.
2. We have very information about that new perfume store which just opened. Someone should do research.
3. That's it. Let's eat!'
'Before we end this meeting, I would like to make a few 1 points:
1. I need a few 2 volunteers to help me prepare for next week's press conference.
2. We have very little 3 information about that new perfume store which just opened. Someone should do a little 4 research.
3. That's it. Let's eat!'
1. I need a few 2 volunteers to help me prepare for next week's press conference.
2. We have very little 3 information about that new perfume store which just opened. Someone should do a little 4 research.
3. That's it. Let's eat!'
1 a few: Because 'points' is a countable noun, we use 'a few' to describe it.
1 few: 'Few' is the correct choice to describe a countable noun such as 'points', however we must precede 'few' with the article 'a'.
1 little: We only use 'a little' to qualify uncountable nouns. Because 'points' is a countable noun, we cannot use 'a little' to describe it.
2 a few: Because 'volunteers' is a countable noun, we use 'a few' to describe it.
2 few: 'Few' is the correct choice to describe a countable noun such as 'points', however we must precede 'few' with the article 'a'.
2 little: We only use 'a little' to qualify uncountable nouns. Because 'volunteers' is a countable noun, we cannot use 'a little' to describe it.
3 little: We use 'little' to describe uncountable nouns like 'information'. It is the best choice here.
3 a little: 'Little' is the correct choice to describe an uncountable noun such as 'information', however the noun is already preceded by the adverb 'very', so we cannot use 'very a little information'.
3 few: Because 'information' is an uncountable noun, we cannot use 'few' to describe it.
4 a little: We use 'little' to describe uncountable nouns like 'research'. It is the best choice here.
4 a few: Because 'research' is an uncountable noun, we cannot use 'few' to describe it.
练习 5
There are people waiting to speak with Bruno, but he is busy talking with Susie. Sometimes his clients grow impatient, but usually Polly gives them candies and they calm down.
There are a few 1 people waiting to speak with Bruno, but he is busy talking with Susie. Sometimes his clients grow a little 2 impatient, but usually Polly gives them a few 3 candies and they calm down.
1 a few: Because 'people' is a countable noun, we use 'a few' to describe it.
1 a little: We only use 'a little' to describe uncountable nouns. Because 'people' is a countable noun, we cannot use 'a little' to describe it.
2 a little: Because 'impatient' is a state, we use 'a little' to describe it.
2 a few: We only use 'a few' when we speak about countable things. Because 'impatient' is not a countable thing, we cannot use 'a few' to describe it.
3 a few: Because 'candies' is a countable noun, we use 'a few' to describe it.
3 a little: We only use 'a little' to describe uncountable nouns (time, money, enjoyment). Because 'candies' is a countable noun, we cannot use 'a little' to describe it.
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