3.1 数量限定词（一）：a few, few/a little, little
一、与名词的搭配关系
从与名词的搭配来看，a few和few的后面只能接复数名词，而a little和little的后面只能接不可数名词。例如：
1 a few days, few boys
2 a little water, little money
二、肯定/否定之别
从肯定及否定的角度来看，a few和a little的意思是肯定的，相当于some，表示“有一些”的意思。而few和little的意思是否定的，表示“很少，几乎没有”。例如：
3 His theory is rather difficult; few people understand it.
=His theory is rather difficult; almost no people understand it. 他的理论很深奥，没什么人能够理解。
4 His theory is rather difficult, but a few people understand it. 他的理论很深奥，但有一些人能够理解。
5 I have little interest in English, so I am very poor at it. 我对英文没什么兴趣，所以学得很不好。
6 I have a little interest in English, so I like learning it. 我对英文有些兴趣，所以我喜欢学。
三、与only或very的搭配关系
我们只能说：only a little或only a few，而不能说：only few*或only little*。但为了强调否定意义，我们可说：very few或very little。我们来分析下面这道题：
7 His theory is rather difficult and ______ students can understand it.
A. only few
B. only a few
C. only little
D. only a little
正确答案 B。
妙语点睛 首先，从与名词搭配的角度来看，复数名词students只能与a few/few连用。其次，从与only搭配的角度来看，只有only才能与a few搭配。因此，正确答案是B，即only a few。
精品译文 他的理论很深奥，只有一些学生能够理解。
用a few, a little, few, little填空。
1. A: Are you finished?
B: Not yet. I need ______ more minutes.
B: Not yet. I need ______ more time.
2. Do you have ______ minutes? I'd like to ask you ______ questions. I need ______ more information.
3. He is very poor and he has ______ clothes.
4. I like music. I like to listen to ______ music after dinner.
5. Jane is very shy. She seems to have ______ friends in her new school.
6. I had ______ food this morning. Now I am very hungry.
7. Mr. Zhang's grammar lecture is very clear. As a result, very ______ students have questions at the end of class.
8. English is not hard. Only ______ students are not good at it.
9. I had only ______ money with me.
10. Only ______ dollars have been borrowed from the manager.
