Practice
Few or some: what's the difference?
Few seats were left, so the group booked quickly. Some seats were still available for people who arrived later. Both sentences describe more than one seat, but they give the listener a different picture.
Choose few when a small number is the point, and choose some when you mean an unspecified number or amount.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
A few people need some more time. /ə fjuː ˈpiːpəl niːd sʌm mɔːr taɪm/
The short answer
Choose few to emphasize that there are not many. Choose some for an unspecified number or amount. Use a few when a small number is enough or welcome.
Few people came to the early meeting, but some colleagues joined online.
Why it works: Few focuses on the low number at the meeting. Some gives an unspecified number of online colleagues.
5 more examples
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Few stores stay open after ten o'clock.
Few tells the listener that the number of open stores is small.
Not this:
Some storesstay open after ten o'clock. What changes: Some gives no judgment about the number of stores. -
Few students understood the first instruction.
The sentence suggests that not many students understood it.
Not this:
Some studentsunderstood the first instruction. What changes: Some says that an unspecified group understood it. -
I have a few minutes before my next call.
A few means a small amount of time that is available.
Not this:I have
few minutesbefore my next call. What changes: Without a, few stresses that there is almost no time. -
Could I have some water, please?
Water is uncountable, so use some rather than few.
Not this:Could I have
a few glassesof water, please? What changes: Glasses are countable, so a few can describe their small number. -
Few of the reports were ready on Friday.
Few can come before of when you mean a small number within a known group.
Not this:
Some of the reportswere ready on Friday. What changes: Some of says that an unspecified part of the known group was ready.
Read the full guide
First, ask whether the sentence needs to emphasize a shortage. If it does, use few with a plural countable noun. If the sentence only needs an unspecified quantity, use some. Then check whether a before few changes the message from almost none to a small, usable number.
Use few for a small number
Use few before a plural countable noun when the number is small. The word often carries the idea that the number is less than someone wanted or expected.
Few guests arrived before noon.
Guests are countable, and few says that the early group was small.
Choose the word that stresses a small number: few or some?
Use few: Few guests arrived before noon.
Use some for an unspecified quantity
Use some when you do not need to say how many or how much. It works with plural countable nouns and with uncountable nouns.
Some guests arrived before noon.
Some tells us that guests arrived, but it does not describe the number as small or large.
We need some information before we decide.
Information is uncountable, so use some rather than few.
Notice a few
The article a changes the message. Few means not many and can suggest a problem. A few means a small number is available. The nouns after both forms must be plural and countable.
Few chairs were available, so several people stood.
Few emphasizes that the supply of chairs was too small.
A few chairs were available near the window.
A few tells us that there were some chairs to use.
Check whether the noun is countable
Few needs a plural countable noun. You can count books, emails, and chairs. You cannot normally count water, traffic, or advice as separate units, so use some with those nouns.
There is some traffic on the bridge.
Traffic is uncountable in this meaning, so few traffic is not standard English.
Choose the quantity word for advice: few or some?
Use some: She gave me some advice.
Use the sentence's message
Both few and some may be grammatically possible before a plural noun. Choose by the message. Few points to a limited number. Some gives a neutral, unspecified quantity.
Few applicants had the required license.
The sentence focuses on a shortage of qualified applicants.
Some applicants had the required license.
The sentence identifies a group without judging its size.
Before you go
Remember this
Use few with plural countable nouns when a small number matters. Use some for an unspecified number or amount, including uncountable nouns. Remember that a few means a small but existing number, while few often suggests not enough.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Few or some: what's the difference?"
What is the main difference between few and some?
Few means not many and usually draws attention to a small number. Some means an unspecified number or amount. Before a plural countable noun, both can be grammatical, but they do not give the same message.
Few stores stay open after ten o'clock.
Why is a few different from few?
A few means a small number exists, and it often sounds positive or sufficient. Few without a often suggests that the number is lower than needed or expected. Compare I have a few ideas with I have few ideas.
Some stores stay open after ten o'clock.
Can I use few with water or advice?
No. Water and advice are uncountable nouns in ordinary English, so use some water or some advice. Use few only with plural countable nouns, such as bottles, messages, or suggestions.
Few students understood the first instruction.
Can few and some both come before plural nouns?
Yes. You can say few visitors or some visitors. Choose few when you want to stress that the number is small. Choose some when you only need to say that an unspecified group exists.
Some students understood the first instruction.
Should I use some in every question?
No. Many questions use any, especially when you do not know whether something exists. Use some naturally in offers and requests that expect or invite a positive answer, such as Would you like some coffee?
I have a few minutes before my next call.