few,little虽然都表示“少”,但
(1)few是可数的,little是不可数的。
(2)few,little含否定意味。这里所谓的“肯定意味”和“否定意味”应该这样来理解:同样是半杯水,口渴者会认为:Thereislittlewaterintheglass.而不口渴的人则会认为:Thereisalittlewaterintheglass.
一、具体释义:
1.few修饰可数名词复数。
2.few(=notmany;hardlyany)含否定意义;
3.notafew=nofew=quiteafew=agoodfew=many。
4.当few受every,last,past,next,some,very等词所修饰时,表示肯定意义,few之前不再有冠词。如:
Inthelastfewminutes,hecheckeduphispaperagain.
Ittookussomefewdaystorepairthemachine.
Theyareveryfewinnumber.
Thereweretoofewofthem.