下面是一句從一張餐館廣告中看到的話：

　　“If you have few years of experience in managing a fine dining restaurant and possess the capability to organize and operate banquet functions, you are the person we are looking for.”

　　這句話很清楚，但是否有不妥之處?有!看起來是芝麻綠豆事，但卻是關(guān)系到數(shù)目和數(shù)量的問題。

　　英語里的數(shù)目詞包括“many, a few, few, a large number of ”等。數(shù)量詞是“much, a little, little, a great deal of”等。前者和可數(shù)復(fù)數(shù)名詞連用，如例①-③;后者則和不可數(shù)名詞連用，如例④-⑥：

　　① Jason has written many books.

　�、� David has a few good friends.

　�、� There are a large number of people in the cinema.

　�、� How much money do you need?

　�、� I need only a little sugar for my coffee.

　　⑥ One can get a great deal of knowledge from reading.

　　在數(shù)目詞中，有“few”和“a few”兩個(gè)�？此葡嗤�，其實(shí)差別甚大，一不小心，可能有錯(cuò)。例如：

　�、� The minister is leaving Singapore for few days.

　�、� Many students here can speak English quite fluently, but a few can write well.

　　顯然，⑦里的“few”和⑧里的“a few”要對(duì)換，才符合全句的意思。

　　“Few”的意思是“not many”( 不多;少);反義詞是“many ”�！癆 few”的意思是“some”(一些);反義詞里“none”(沒有)。例如：

　�、� Though Jason is not sociable, he has a few bosom friends.

　�、� Mary is very extroverted, but she has few intimate friends.

　　11. The teacher has spotted a few grammatical errors in her essay.

　　12. There are few errors in Betty's report; it is excellent.

　　從上面例子看，“a few”和“few”的意思有些相似，但在句中整體的含義有差別。“A few”出現(xiàn)之處，“few”不適合，反之亦然。

　　“Few”約等于“l(fā)ittle”：“a few”和“a little”相近。但 “l(fā)ittle”和“a little”只和不可數(shù)名詞連用，例如：

　　13. As we have little money left, we should spend carefully.

　　14. There is still a little hope, so don't give up.

　　13里的“l(fā)ittle”和14里的“a little”語意分明，各得其所。如果兩個(gè)對(duì)調(diào)，便牛頭不對(duì)馬嘴，格格不入。

　　餐館廣告中的“few”對(duì)嗎?是不是應(yīng)該改為“a few”呢?