You have few options available to you.
You have a few options available to you.
The first sounds negative, whereas the second positive, but don't they mean the same thing?
2006-10-03 13:13:35 · 10 answers · asked by anon 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Ain't english wonderful they mean almost the same thing the variation is so subtle - to me the first means:
you have little in the way of options available to you,
The second means: there are some (ie more than 1) options available.
2006-10-03 13:33:07 · answer #1 · answered by scrambulls 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The use of an indefinite article in English can make a world of difference in all sorts of words and phrase. The indefinite article is definitely "a" little word we can't live without. It shapes a context. In sentence one, it sounds as if the number of options has dwindled until there's only a few left. On the other hand, thanks to the indefinite article, sentence two makes it sound like we had no options, but a few have suddenly opened up. Yay. There are other ways English can achieve like results, and you can bet spin doctors know each and every one. For instance, say that 33.3% of voters are for a given politician. Note the difference in saying "only of a third of registered voters support Reginald W. Bush" or saying "Over 33 percent of registered voters support Reginald W. Bush". Neither misstates the fact, but they sound radically different. English is a great language for "Spin".
2006-10-03 13:23:12 · answer #2 · answered by Rico Toasterman JPA 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're talking about connotation. Having few options is negative. It's more direct, without qualification or any modifier. Having a few options has a slight modifier, therefore softens the sentence.
The implication is just what Worshipful said, the latter implies that the options might be better options.
2006-10-03 13:27:09 · answer #3 · answered by Ignoramus 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A few options gives you more. Few options gives you less. If you are are in trouble lets say and some one say "You have few options...your toast. On the other hand, if that same some one says, "You have a few options", you feel as if you have hope not to be toast. It's all in the perspective. I'd rather hear A Few, over Few any day.
2006-10-03 16:58:16 · answer #4 · answered by crazedmomma 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are pretty much the same in regards to number of options but the phrasing depends on the attitude of the person and the actual helpfulness of the options presented with.
2006-10-03 13:22:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You have few options available to you.
- This is a COMPARATIVE statement.
- You have few options COMPARED to someone else or compared to another occasion / incidence.
You have a few options available to you.
- This is a statement saying that you have several options to choose from.
2006-10-03 13:28:05 · answer #6 · answered by Kemmy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They do not mean the same thing because of the tone of each sentence. "Few options" implies desperation. "A few options" implies abundance.
2006-10-03 14:05:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Few makes it sound like you have like one or two or three options.
A few sounds better but it ultimatly means the same thing.
2006-10-03 13:15:14 · answer #8 · answered by Mimi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"few options" does sound rather negative
But ultimately they do mean the same
2006-10-03 13:38:24 · answer #9 · answered by Mee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first could mean none at all but the latter suggests at least two or more.
2006-10-03 13:22:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋