◊ used in front of nouns
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You use a few simply to indicate that you are talking about a small number of people or things. When you use few without `a', you are emphasizing that there are only a small number of people or things of a particular kind.
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So, for example, if you say `I have a few friends', you are simply saying that you have some friends. However, if you say `I have few friends', you are saying that you do not have enough friends and are lonely.
A few children were playing in the road.
Few children will be able to cope with the long journeys.
They may have a few books on the shelf.
There were few books in Grandfather's study.
◊ used as pronouns
Each volunteer spent one night a week in the cathedral. A few spent two.
Many are invited but few are chosen.
◊ 'not many'
In conversation, people do not usually use few without `a'. Instead they use not many. For example, instead of saying `I have few friends', people usually say `I haven't got many friends' or `I don't have many friends'.
They haven't got many good players in their side.
I don't have many visitors.
◊ WARNING
You do not use few or a few when you are talking about a small amount of something. You do not say, for example, `Would you like a few more milk in your tea?' You say `Would you like a little more milk in your tea?' See entry at ↑ little - a little.
\Useful english dictionary. 2012.