Is a few plural?
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Isabella Patel
Studied at the University of São Paulo, Lives in São Paulo, Brazil.
As a language expert with a deep understanding of English grammar and usage, I'm here to provide you with a comprehensive explanation of the term "a few" and its plural implications.
"A few" is a quantifier that is used to indicate a small number of something, but unlike "few," which typically suggests a negative connotation or a smaller number than expected, "a few" carries a more neutral or even slightly positive tone. It can be used with both countable nouns (in their plural form) and uncountable nouns, depending on the context.
Let's delve into the nuances of its usage:
1. Plural Countable Nouns: When "a few" is followed by a plural countable noun, it implies that there is a small number of those items, but it's more than just one or two. The verb that follows should be plural to agree with the noun. For example, "A few apples are ripe," or "A few students have passed the exam."
2. Uncountable Nouns: With uncountable nouns, "a few" can be used to indicate a small quantity of the substance. The verb that follows is singular because uncountable nouns are treated as singular. For example, "A few water is spilled," although it's more common to use "a little" with uncountable nouns.
3. Indefinite Pronouns: When "a few" is used with indefinite pronouns, which can be singular or plural depending on the noun they replace, the verb agreement depends on the noun referenced by the pronoun. For instance, "All of the people clapped their hands" implies that "people" is plural, and so is "their." However, "Few of the justices were voicing their opposition" suggests that "few" is used in a negative sense, implying fewer justices than expected or desired, and "were" agrees with "justices," which is plural.
It's important to note that "few" and "a few" can sometimes be ambiguous, and their intended meaning can be clarified by the context. For example, "Few people came to the party" might suggest that the turnout was disappointingly low, whereas "A few people came to the party" could simply state that there were not many attendees without the negative connotation.
In conclusion, "a few" is inherently plural when it comes to countable nouns, and it is used to express a small, affirmative quantity. The verb agreement should reflect the plurality of the noun that follows "a few." With uncountable nouns, the verb is singular, and "a few" can sometimes be replaced with "a little" for better clarity. The usage of "a few" with indefinite pronouns is determined by the noun that the pronoun stands in for.
"A few" is a quantifier that is used to indicate a small number of something, but unlike "few," which typically suggests a negative connotation or a smaller number than expected, "a few" carries a more neutral or even slightly positive tone. It can be used with both countable nouns (in their plural form) and uncountable nouns, depending on the context.
Let's delve into the nuances of its usage:
1. Plural Countable Nouns: When "a few" is followed by a plural countable noun, it implies that there is a small number of those items, but it's more than just one or two. The verb that follows should be plural to agree with the noun. For example, "A few apples are ripe," or "A few students have passed the exam."
2. Uncountable Nouns: With uncountable nouns, "a few" can be used to indicate a small quantity of the substance. The verb that follows is singular because uncountable nouns are treated as singular. For example, "A few water is spilled," although it's more common to use "a little" with uncountable nouns.
3. Indefinite Pronouns: When "a few" is used with indefinite pronouns, which can be singular or plural depending on the noun they replace, the verb agreement depends on the noun referenced by the pronoun. For instance, "All of the people clapped their hands" implies that "people" is plural, and so is "their." However, "Few of the justices were voicing their opposition" suggests that "few" is used in a negative sense, implying fewer justices than expected or desired, and "were" agrees with "justices," which is plural.
It's important to note that "few" and "a few" can sometimes be ambiguous, and their intended meaning can be clarified by the context. For example, "Few people came to the party" might suggest that the turnout was disappointingly low, whereas "A few people came to the party" could simply state that there were not many attendees without the negative connotation.
In conclusion, "a few" is inherently plural when it comes to countable nouns, and it is used to express a small, affirmative quantity. The verb agreement should reflect the plurality of the noun that follows "a few." With uncountable nouns, the verb is singular, and "a few" can sometimes be replaced with "a little" for better clarity. The usage of "a few" with indefinite pronouns is determined by the noun that the pronoun stands in for.
2024-05-13 04:12:08
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Studied at Stanford University, Lives in Stanford, CA
Correct: A few of the justices were voicing their opposition. (Few is plural, so are were and their.) For indefinite pronouns that can be singular or plural, it depends on what the indefinite pronoun refers to. Correct: All of the people clapped their hands.
2023-06-19 00:31:39
Harper Murphy
QuesHub.com delivers expert answers and knowledge to you.
Correct: A few of the justices were voicing their opposition. (Few is plural, so are were and their.) For indefinite pronouns that can be singular or plural, it depends on what the indefinite pronoun refers to. Correct: All of the people clapped their hands.
