a few, a little, plenty of, hardly any

Voorbeelden

1. We still have a few minutes before the train.

   We hebben nog een paar minuten voor de trein.

2. Few people applied for the job.

   Weinig mensen solliciteerden naar de baan.

3. There is plenty of room in the car.

   Er is ruimte genoeg in de auto.

4. I have hardly any time this week.

   Ik heb deze week nauwelijks tijd.

Veelgemaakte fouten

• ✗Fout: I have a few money left.

  ✓Goed: I have a little money left.

  money is ontelbaar, dus a little.

• ✗Fout: A few people came, so the hall was almost empty.

  ✓Goed: Few people came, so the hall was almost empty.

  Zonder a betekent few teleurstellend weinig.

• ✗Fout: There is not hardly any bread.

  ✓Goed: There is hardly any bread.

  hardly is al ontkennend, dus blijft het werkwoord bevestigend.

Oefenvragen

Probeer elke vraag eerst zelf en open dan „Toon antwoord” voor de oplossing en de reden.

1. 1Kies de juiste zin.

   1. ACould I have a little more sugars?
   2. BCould I have little more sugar?
   3. CCould I have a little more sugar?
   4. DCould I have a few more sugar?
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: C Could I have a little more sugar?

   sugar is ontelbaar, dus a little.

2. 2Kies de juiste zin.

   1. AOnly a few seat were left.
   2. BOnly a few seats were left.
   3. COnly a little seats were left.
   4. DOnly few seats were left over from many.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B Only a few seats were left.

   seats is telbaar, dus a few.

3. 3Kies de juiste zin.

   1. AThere is plenty of time, do not rush.
   2. BThere is plenty of times, do not rush.
   3. CThere are plenty of time, do not rush.
   4. DThere is plenty time, do not rush.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A There is plenty of time, do not rush.

   plenty of + ontelbaar, met een enkelvoudig werkwoord.

4. 4Kies de juiste zin.

   1. AHe has hardly no friends here.
   2. BHe has not hardly any friends here.
   3. CHe has hardly any friends here.
   4. DHe has hardly any friend here.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: C He has hardly any friends here.

   hardly any + meervoud en een bevestigend werkwoord.

5. 5Vul het gat in.

   I speak _____ Dutch — enough to shop.

   1. Alittle
   2. Ba little
   3. Ca few
   4. Dfew
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B I speak a little Dutch — enough to shop.

   Ontelbaar en positief: a little.

6. 6Vul het gat in.

   _____ students passed, which worried the school.

   1. AA little
   2. BA few
   3. CLittle
   4. DFew
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: D Few students passed, which worried the school.

   Telbaar en teleurstellend, dus few zonder a.

7. 7Vul het gat in.

   We had _____ of help from the neighbours.

   1. Aa few
   2. Bplenty
   3. Cmany
   4. Dhardly
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B We had plenty of help from the neighbours.

   plenty of betekent meer dan genoeg.

8. 8Vul het gat in.

   There is _____ any petrol in the tank.

   1. Anot
   2. Bno
   3. Cnot hardly
   4. Dhardly
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: D There is hardly any petrol in the tank.

   hardly any betekent bijna geen.

9. 9Zet de woorden in de juiste volgorde.

   We have a few questions for you

   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: We have a few questions for you.

   a few + een telbaar meervoud.

10. 10Zet de woorden in de juiste volgorde.

    There is hardly any milk left

    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: There is hardly any milk left.

    hardly any + ontelbaar, werkwoord bevestigend.