Hello! It's nice to be here with you as the weekend begins. As always, thanks for including us in your plans.

Here's your Saturday WordMaster!

A FEW vs. [ONLY A] FEW
いくらかの vs. ほとんどない【数】

A few means "some" or "not none".

Few and only a few mean "not many".

Phrases using "few" are followed by the plural form of a countable noun; for example, "a few birds".

(Be careful: In general, a few is used to make positive statements; we use it when we want to say that there ARE some. But (only a) few feels negative; we use it to say that there are NOT many.)

a few は、いくらかあるという意味です。

few only a few は、ほとんどないという意味です。

few の後には数えられる名詞の複数形が来ます。例: afew birds (何羽かの鳥)

注意:a few は、肯定的な意味で、少しではあるが、ある、と言いたいときに使います。

(only a) few は、否定的な意味で、ほとんどない、ほんの僅かしかないと言いたいときに使います。

1. a: Do you know anyone in Kobe?
b: Yes, I have a few friends there.
  
2. a: Do you know anyone in Kobe?
b: No, I know few people outside of Tokyo.
  
3. a: Should I order some more file folders?
b: No, we still have a few left.
 
4. a: Should I order some more file folders?
b: Yes, please. We only have a few left. 
 
5. That's a wonderful art gallery. They even have a few paintings by Picasso. 
 
6. That art gallery disappointed me. I only liked a few of the paintings.
Enjoy your Saturday!