A Few Is vs. A Few Are – Which is Correct?
When the subject is “a few” meaning several people or things, use the plural verb “are”: “A few are missing.” Use “is” only when “a few” means one small group or amount considered a single unit: “A few is enough.” In ordinary counting contexts, “a few are” is the correct choice.
A Few Is or A Few Are: Which Is Correct?
Both “a few is” and “a few are” can be grammatically correct, but they express different ideas. Use “a few are” when “a few” refers to several individual people or things. For example, “A few are ready” means that several people or items are ready.
Use “a few is” when “a few” refers to one small quantity, group, or amount treated as a single unit. For example, “A few is enough” means that one small number or quantity is sufficient. In everyday sentences involving countable nouns, however, “a few are” is usually the correct choice.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the replacement test. Replace “a few” with several people or several things. If the replacement makes sense, use are: “A few are absent” becomes “Several people are absent.” If “a few” means one small amount, use is: “A few is enough” becomes “One small amount is enough.”
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| is | Singular form of the verb “be” | Shows that one amount or unit is being discussed | A few is enough for the recipe. |
| are | Plural form of the verb “be” | Shows that several people or things are being discussed | A few are waiting outside. |
How to Use Is
Is is the singular present-tense form of the verb be. With “a few,” use is when the phrase describes one quantity, one group, or one collective idea rather than separate individuals or objects. This construction is less common than “a few are” and can sound formal or context-dependent.
When “a few” directly modifies a plural noun, the noun itself normally determines agreement with the verb. For example, “A few students are late” requires are, because students is plural. However, when “a few” stands alone and represents one amount, is may be appropriate.
Example 1: A few is enough to complete the project.
Example 2: A few is a small number, but it may still make a difference.
Example 3: If a few is all you can spare, we will use it carefully.
What Are the Different Forms of Is?
Is is the third-person singular present form of be. Its other forms include be, am, are, was, were, being, and been. Examples include “She is ready,” “They were ready,” and “The team has been ready.”
Etymology of the Word Is
Is comes from Old English is, the third-person singular form of the verb meaning “to be.” It is related to similar forms in other Germanic languages, including German ist and Dutch is. The verb be preserves several historically different forms that eventually became part of one English verb.
How to Use Are
Are is the present-tense form of be used with plural subjects and with the pronouns you and we. In the expression “a few,” use are when the phrase refers to several individual people or things. This is the standard and most natural choice in ordinary sentences.
The same subject–verb distinction appears in discussions of People Is vs. People Are, especially when collective nouns cause confusion.
When a plural noun follows “a few,” the verb should almost always be plural. The correct pattern is a few + plural noun + are, as in “A few questions are unanswered.” Do not let the word few confuse you: although it indicates a small number, it still refers to more than one item.
Example 1: A few employees are working late.
Example 2: A few of the cookies are missing.
Example 3: A few reasons are listed in the report.
What Are the Different Forms of Are?
Are is used in the present tense with plural subjects, as well as with you. The related forms of be include am, is, was, were, being, and been. Examples include “We are prepared,” “You were correct,” and “They have been informed.”
Etymology of the Word Are
Are developed from forms of the Old English verb beon, meaning “to be.” Its history is unusual because modern English combines forms from several older verbs. The form are is related to forms found in Scandinavian languages, such as Old Norse, and gradually became established in English as the plural present form.
Related Concepts
Understanding quantifiers and subject–verb agreement makes it easier to choose between “a few is” and “a few are.” The key question is whether “a few” represents several separate items or one combined amount.
- Subject–verb agreement: A verb must agree with its subject in number. A plural subject normally takes are, while a singular subject takes is.
- Quantifiers: Words such as a few, many, and several describe quantity. “A few” generally refers to more than one countable item.
- Countable nouns: “A few” is used with plural countable nouns, such as books, students, and questions.
- Collective meaning: A plural-looking phrase can sometimes represent one combined amount or unit. That meaning can permit a singular verb such as is.
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples reflect common patterns found in journalism, fiction, film dialogue, and everyday public communication:
- News reporting: “A few officials are expected to attend the meeting.” Here, “a few” refers to several individual officials.
- Sports coverage: “A few players are recovering from minor injuries.” The plural noun players requires are.
- Fictional dialogue: “A few are still waiting by the door.” The phrase stands for several people, so are is correct.
- Cooking instructions: “A few is enough for this recipe.” In this unusual construction, “a few” represents one small quantity.
- Documentary narration: “A few of the surviving letters are preserved in the archive.” The verb agrees with the plural meaning of the letters.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.
- A few of the guests _____ already here. (is/are)
- A few _____ enough for the sample display. (is/are)
- A few books _____ missing from the shelf. (is/are)
- A few of us _____ planning to arrive early. (is/are)
- A few _____ a reasonable number to invite. (is/are)
Answer Key
- are — “Guests” refers to several people.
- is — “A few” represents one sufficient quantity.
- are — “Books” is a plural noun.
- are — “Us” refers to multiple people.
- is — “A few” is treated as one number or amount.
Is Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| exists | Has being or reality |
| equals | Has the same value or meaning |
| remains | Continues to be in a particular state |
| represents | Stands for or symbolizes something |
Are Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| exist | Have being or reality in the plural |
| remain | Continue in a particular state or place |
| equal | Have the same value or meaning |
| represent | Stand for or describe multiple subjects |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is it “a few is” or “a few are”?
Usually, the correct expression is “a few are” because “a few” normally refers to several people or things. Use “a few is” when the phrase means one small amount, group, or number.
Question 2: Should I write “a few people is” or “a few people are”?
Write “a few people are.” The noun people is plural, so it requires the plural verb are: “A few people are waiting outside.”
Question 3: Is “a few is enough” grammatically correct?
Yes. In “A few is enough,” the phrase “a few” is treated as one small quantity. This usage is grammatically possible, although “A few are enough” may be more natural when a specific plural noun is understood, such as “A few chairs are enough.”
Conclusion
Use “a few are” when “a few” refers to several individual people or things: “A few are available.” Use “a few is” only when the phrase represents one small amount, group, or number: “A few is enough.” Pro Tip: In professional writing, identify the intended meaning clearly and choose the verb that matches it.
