Practice Makes Perfect

The Sentence The Implication

Few people saw this movie. Not many people went to see this movie.

(There is a negative implication here.)

A few people saw this movie. Some people saw this movie but not a lot.

(The implication is more positive.)

Few students understood him. He was hard to understand.

(There is a negative implication here.)

A few students understood him. Some of the students did understand him.

(This implication is more positive.)

She has few friends. She has almost no friends.

(There is a negative implication here.)

She has a few friends. She has some friends but not a lot.

(This implication is more positive.)

Use fewto imply a negative point of view about something. Use a fewto show a more positive

point of view.

Fewerand Less

Many people misuse these two words. But their usage is quite simple: Use fewerto modify plural

nouns and use lessto modify singular (and often collective) nouns. Feweris the comparative of

few, and lessis the comparative of little. Some examples:

Plural Nouns Singular Nouns

I have fewer books. I have less money.

We need fewer jobs to do. She has less time than usual.

Fewer and fewer friends came to visit. Mom has less and less patience with him.

Now let’s compare the positiveand comparativeforms of these words:

Positive Comparative

He has few ideas. He has fewer ideas than you.

February has few days. February has fewer days than March.

I have little time. I have less time now than a year ago.

She has little pain. She has less pain today than yesterday.

Layand Lie

Many English speakers confuse these two verbs. Layis a transitive verb and takes a direct object.

Lieis intransitive and does not take a direct object but is often followed by a prepositional phrase

showing a location.

He lays the baby on the bed. (transitive/direct object baby)

Where did you lay my book? (transitive/direct object book)

Hamburg lies on the Elbe River. (intransitive/prepositional phrase with on)

Your coat is lying over the railing. (intransitive/prepositional phrase with over)

Some Important Contrasts 127

06 (099-132B) Units 20-25 11/3/04 1:42 PM Page 127