[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/few/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [F](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/f/) / few

# few

adjective, determiner, pronoun (few, fewer, fewest; a few)

«few» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Few means not many: few people came. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/few/#m1)
2. «A few» means a small number, some: I have a few sweets. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/few/#m2)
3. Fewer means a smaller number than another; fewest means the smallest number of all. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/few/#m3)

### In the lessons

in «how many fewer … than» the difference between two amounts (subtract the smaller from the bigger); «4 fewer than 11» = 11 − 4; in everyday life «a few minutes», «quite a few» (many); in science «few animals live in the desert»

### Examples

- A box has 20 balloons and a bag has 19 balloons. How many fewer balloons are in the bag than in the box? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/few/#x1)
- Tom has 4 fewer pens than Lisa. Lisa has 11 pens. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/few/#x2)
- Ann has a few stamps. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/few/#x3)
- Wait a few minutes, please. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/few/#x4)
- Few people swim in the sea in winter. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/few/#x5)
- Our team scored fewer goals than theirs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/few/#x6)
- Which class has the fewest books? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/few/#x7)
- I have a few friends on my street. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/few/#x8)
- In a few minutes they were ready. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/few/#x9)

### Note

«fewer … than» asks for a difference: subtract the smaller from the bigger. Trap: «Tom has 4 fewer than Lisa» with Lisa's amount given asks for Tom's: subtract 4 from Lisa's. «Few» goes with things you can count (few apples); «little» and «less» with things you cannot count (little water). «Few» sounds sad (not enough); «a few» sounds neutral (some).

## In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Moses prays that Reuben's men will not become few. Tradition notes Israel's small number as a sign that its strength comes from God and not from size. In the primary lessons: in «how many fewer … than» the difference between two amounts (subtract the smaller from the bigger); «4 fewer than 11» = 11 − 4; in everyday life «a few minutes», «quite a few» (many); in science «few animals live in the desert»

### Examples

- Let Reuben live, and not die in that his men become few. (Torah DEU.33.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/few/#x1)
- and tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away; (Torah GEN.27.44, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/few/#x2)
- And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. (Torah GEN.29.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/few/#x3)
- Yea, very few, and sojourners in it, (Writings PSA.105.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/few/#x4)
- When they were but a few men in number. (Writings PSA.105.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/few/#x5)
- Let his days be few; let another take his charge. (Writings PSA.109.8, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/few/#x6)

### Note

«fewer … than» asks for a difference: subtract the smaller from the bigger. Trap: «Tom has 4 fewer than Lisa» with Lisa's amount given asks for Tom's: subtract 4 from Lisa's. «Few» goes with things you can count (few apples); «little» and «less» with things you cannot count (little water). «Few» sounds sad (not enough); «a few» sounds neutral (some).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «few» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/few/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«few» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/few.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «few» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/few/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«few» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/few.html) on Mova free.