few

1.few和a few不同，参见a, an 32。但only a few或but a few等于few。

2.few和many恰恰相反，但a good few作“很有几个”解，现在比较少用，跟a good many几乎相同。quite a few主要用在美国，也可说相同。

3.not a few作“许多”、“许多人”或“许多的”解，不作“一些也没有”解。

4.few不可修饰number，如不可说There were a fewer number of pupils here a year ago。该把fewer改作smaller，或把全句改作There were fewer pupils here a year ago。

5.下面各句都不合习惯：

• The books in the room are few. （该改作There are few books in the room。）
• The books in the room are a few. （该改作There are a few books in the room。）
• His books are few. （该改作He has few books。）
• His books are a few. （该改作He has a few books。）

The books are few和His books are few有时可以说，但通常含有“虽然少”或“太少”的意思。例如：

• The books are few, but the pictures are many.
• The books are few, but they are all well selected.
• His books are few, though his pictures are many.
• His books are few, though they are all well selected.

6.Few people loved him, for they thought him unkind里的they在语法上指Few pepole讲不通，该改作many。