用于可数名词（与用于不可数名词的 little 相对）。前面没有 a 时，有否定意义（“没多少”、“几乎没有”）；前面有 a 时，有肯定意义（“有一些”）；前面有 not a 时，这个 not 不是否定，而是更加强肯定（“有不少”）；前面有 quite a 时，肯定意义更进一步加强（“有许多”）。现在将四种情况按顺序列出如下：
He had few kind thoughts about his former employer.他对他从前的雇主没什么好感。
He had a few kind thoughts about his former employer.他对他从前的雇主有些好感。
He had not a few kind thoughts about his former employer.他对他从前的雇主相当有好感。
He had quite a few kind thoughts about his former employer.他对他从前的雇主十分有好感。