how many is "a few"?

Answer 1

"(a) few" is an "indefinitely small number" how many it refers to is based on the context, esp. on the TOTAL number to which it is being compared

What we can say is

1) "(a) few" is a plural and so must be more than one

2) in use it is almost always more than two. Technically, it COULD refer to two, but in common use we use "a couple" in that case (note that "a couple" can ALSO be used for an indefinite small number, not just in its original, literal meaning of a pair)

3) it refers to a small RELATIVE PROPORTION of a larger group. More than that, the viewpoint of the SPEAKER is key, so it's not just 'a small relative proportion' of the total group, but a proportion that it REGARDED as small.

That is "a few" is used to EMPHASIZE that it is a SMALL proportion of that group, esp. that it is unimpressive, less than expected or hoped for. Other words that might refer to exactly the same number of proportion, but with a different . For instance, "(just) a few people showed up" and "several people" showed up (or for that matter "quite a few people showed up") COULD be speaking about exactly the same number of people (or 'several' could even be a smaller number!). The difference is only the view of the one speaking.

4) now in everyday circumstances we tend to be working with relatively small TOTAL numbers, so that the 'absolute number' that "a few" refers to sill be QUITE small, typically single digits. Again, if that total group in view is small, we would bump in up to "several" more quickly. That puts a lower ceiling on "a few". Hence in many instances "a few" refers to three to five or so.

5) But consider what happens if the total you're thinking of is quite large!

a) If you're thinking of eons of time, you might refer to any human life -- be it 100 years or more-- as "a few short years"

b) You went to an all day presentation at which many people tried to jot down everything that was said. You on the other hands took "(just) a few notes"... when you jotted down 40 lines. Or you decided to keep only "a few notes" from ALL your college coursework, though the sum of them might fill a small book!

c) If you are a huge company and are conducting a massive sales effort, you will consider it a failure if "only a few people responded". But in view of the scope of the effort, "a few" might be dozens, scores even hundreds of people! ("Scores" is another fine example of something that can literally refer to a precise number [20], but then be used indefinitely... in this case to emphasize that something is relatively large.)

These are, of course, just a few examples.


When all else fails, check out the dictionary. I think it fits with what I've written:
1. An indefinitely small number of persons or things
2. An exclusive or limited number: "the discerning few", "the fortunate few"
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/few

Answer 2

3

Answer 3

2

Answer 4

3

Answer 5

3

Answer 6

5

Answer 7

A few is more than 2 (couple) and less than several (seven)
therefore a few can be 3 or 4 or 5 or 6
If you have a few too many better to have 3 than 6

Answer 8

from 4-2

Answer 9

3 or more

Answer 10

3 is a few