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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > Grammar
Grammar
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Sara5
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Grammar
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Dear teachers,
Could someone explain
A few bites or Few bites
And why
Thanks alot |
21 Mar 2018
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douglas
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I �m not exactly sure what you are referring to, but I assume it is the fishing idiom "to get a few bites" When fishing, fish will bite-at (or nibble) the bait on the hook without actually swallowing the bait (and the hook). For a fisherman, this means the fish is showing interest and with a little patience it may eventually take the bait. This idiom is often used to indicate that a few people are showing interest in your proposal, but haven �t yet committed to anything.
"I�ve had a few bites." - some people have shown interest
"I�ve had few bites." -not many people have shown interest.
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22 Mar 2018
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Engteachar
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If you refer to the indefinite article ("a"), when to use and when not to use it, there is a difference. When you use the indefinite article, it has a positive meaning. And when you do not use it, it has a negative meaning. For example: "I have a few friends." (it means you are satisfied) "I have few friends." (it means you are not happy with this situation of having few friends, as if you were complaining) In your example: a few bites, would mean you are satisfied, that it was enough; "few bites" would mean it was not enough. |
22 Mar 2018
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Minka
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I think "a few" often means the same as some (I had some bites, I have a few/some friends etc.) If you say "few", you are pointing out there are bot many. In the case of friends it can be negative (you are not happy about that fact), in some other cases (I had few problems) it could be positive. But you point out that the number of .... is low.
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22 Mar 2018
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