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ESL forum > Ask for help > I need your help please    

I need your help please



miss noor
Palestine

I need your help please
 
Hi,
 
Can you help me, please?
 
Why here use the article a with few , although hours is plural ??
 
In a few hours ,...............
 
 
Thanks a lot in advance,
Noor

9 Feb 2010      





bensucot
El Salvador

becasue you a refering to the quantity not to the noun
 
Few chairs ( enough chairs)
a few chairs (not enough chairs)
 
a modifies few

9 Feb 2010     



Nereis
Argentina

I agree with bensucot, A modifies few not chairs
Hugs
 

9 Feb 2010     



cagreis
Portugal

FEW or A FEW is a quantifiers for COUNTABLE PLURAL NOUNS.

9 Feb 2010     



AACG
Argentina

btw, you need help, some help, a little help;not a help
I hope this helps!

9 Feb 2010     



miss noor
Palestine

Thanks a lot

9 Feb 2010     



yanogator
United States

bensucot is correct about "a", but not about the connotation of "few" and "a few". Neither expression carries the meaning of "enough" or "not enough".
 
"Few chairs" has a negative meaning, implying not enough, but it could be enough. The meaning is "not many chairs".
 
"A few chairs" indicates that there are some chairs, with a somewhat positive connotation.
 
Few people attended the meeting, because of the weather.
There were a few people in the room when I looked, but I �m hoping there will be more by the time the meeting starts.
 
The meanings of "few" and "a few" are very difficult to explain, and I think it takes many examples for a person to understand the meanings.
 
By the way, "little" and "a little" are the counterparts for uncountable nouns.
 
Bruce

10 Feb 2010