The article that changes everything: few (almost none) vs a few (some); plus most (of), all vs whole, no vs none
I can fine-tune quantity meaning with few/a few, most (of), all/whole and no/none.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
There's little point arguing — we have a few options left, so let's use them.
There's little point arguing — we have a few options left, so let's use them.
Most of the guests left at midnight; none of them took the whole cake, but all the sandwiches vanished.
Most of the guests left at midnight; none of them took the whole cake, but all the sandwiches vanished.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Small words, big shifts:
| Pair | Difference |
|---|---|
| few × a few | Few friends (sadly few) × a few friends (some, fine) |
| little × a little | little hope (almost none) × a little hope (some) |
| most × most of the | most people (in general) × most of the people here |
| all × whole | all the cake = the whole cake; all day = the whole day |
| no × none | no time (+ noun) × none of it / none left |
Apply this grammar in B2 course exercises
Practice ExercisesAttitude article dropped
few = too few; a few = some
most of + bare noun
most people OR most of the people
There's little point arguing — we have a few options left, so let's use them.
There's little point arguing — we have a few options left, so let's use them.
little (negative) vs a few (positive) side by side.
Most of the guests left at midnight; none of them took the whole cake, but all the sandwiches vanished.
Most of the guests left at midnight; none of them took the whole cake, but all the sandwiches vanished.
most of the / none of / whole / all in one party.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in B2 course exercises