---
title: few — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «few» in the school dictionary: Few means not many: few people came. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# few

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Few, few people, Fewer, I, box, bag · **What happens:** mean, come, have, be, wait, swim · **To what, where:** many, small number, smaller number, smallest number, few sweets, 20 balloons

<!-- .vabout -->
«few» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [few in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/few.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Few means not many: few people came.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:few:m1:1
# text = Few means not many: few people came.
1	Few	few	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Few | many |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent many=Topic |
| 2 | **come** | past | few people |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«A few» means a small number, some.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:few:m2:1
# text = «A few» means a small number, some.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | a few | a small number  some |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=Topic |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I have a few sweets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:few:m2e:1
# text = I have a few sweets.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | I | a few sweets |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sweet=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fewer means a smaller number than another; fewest means the smallest number of all.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:few:m3:1
# text = Fewer means a smaller number than another; fewest means the smallest number of all.
1	Fewer	few	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	amod	_	_
5	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	fewest	few	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	10	amod	_	_
10	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	smallest	small	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	13	amod	_	_
13	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Fewer | a smaller number |  |  |  | than another | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=Topic |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  | the smallest number of all |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A box has 20 balloons and a bag has 19 balloons. How many fewer balloons are in the bag than in the box?

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* A box has 20 balloons and a bag has 19 balloons.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:few:x1:1
# text = A box has 20 balloons and a bag has 19 balloons.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	balloons	balloon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bag	bag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	19	19	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	balloons	balloon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a box | 20 balloons |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent balloon=Patient |
| 2 | **have** | present | a bag | 19 balloons |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent balloon=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* How many fewer balloons are in the bag than in the box?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:few:x1:2
# text = How many fewer balloons are in the bag than in the box?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	fewer	few	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	amod	_	_
4	balloons	balloon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bag	bag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	than	than	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | many fewer balloons |  |  | the bag |  | than the box | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tom has 4 fewer pens than Lisa. Lisa has 11 pens.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Tom has 4 fewer pens than Lisa.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:few:x2:1
# text = Tom has 4 fewer pens than Lisa.
1	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
4	fewer	few	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	amod	_	_
5	pens	pen	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Lisa	Lisa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Tom | 4 fewer pens |  |  |  | than Lisa | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pen=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Lisa has 11 pens.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:few:x2:2
# text = Lisa has 11 pens.
1	Lisa	Lisa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	11	11	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	pens	pen	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Lisa | 11 pens |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pen=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ann has a few stamps.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:few:x3:1
# text = Ann has a few stamps.
1	Ann	Ann	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	stamps	stamp	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Ann | a few stamps |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stamp=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wait a few minutes, please.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:few:x4:1
# text = Wait a few minutes, please.
1	Wait	wait	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
6	please	please	INTJ	UH	_	1	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wait** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  | minute |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Few people swim in the sea in winter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:few:x5:1
# text = Few people swim in the sea in winter.
1	Few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	swim	swim	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim** | present | Few people |  |  | the sea | winter |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in sea=Trajectory |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our team scored fewer goals than theirs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:few:x6:1
# text = Our team scored fewer goals than theirs.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	scored	score	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	fewer	few	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	amod	_	_
5	goals	goal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	theirs	their	PRON	PRP	Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **score** | past | Our team | fewer goals |  |  |  | than goals *= goal* | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent goal=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Which class has the fewest books?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:few:x7:1
# text = Which class has the fewest books?
1	Which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	2	det	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	fewest	few	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | which class | the fewest books |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent book=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I have a few friends on my street.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:few:x8:1
# text = I have a few friends on my street.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	street	street	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | I | a few friends |  | my street |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent friend=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In a few minutes they were ready.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:few:x9:1
# text = In a few minutes they were ready.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
5	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | they |  |  |  | minute | ready *property* | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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