a few boy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few boy" is not correct in written English.
It should be "a few boys" to refer to multiple male children or young males. Example: "At the park, I saw a few boys playing soccer together."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

While decreasing the chances of guffawing 13-year-olds wasting time, you can't help but wonder if this isn't going to encourage a few 'Boy Who Cried Wolf'-type scenarios... Imagine, there's a smash of glass, then the shopkeeper's wailing as the baggy skin on his skull crumples beneath the butt of a robber's machete.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

A few boys fainted in late April.

The New York Times

A few boys play basketball.

The New York Times

To make life easier, she did date a few boys.

The New Yorker

As the final bell rang, a few boys approached me.

The Guardian

(There are a few boys, too, in the homestretch).

The New York Times - Arts

"There are still a few boys from my time.

The Guardian - Sport

McIlorum added: "A few boys congratulated me, Tommy just said 'I'll see you on Friday'.

Independent

A few boys offered their cellphone numbers, original poetry, rings and marriage proposals.

The New York Times

It appears that a large proportion of tweenage girls (and a few boys) care a lot about this.

Independent

In midafternoon, in a common room, a few boys were watching "Air Force One".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a single boy, the correct phrasing is "a boy".

Common error

Avoid using the singular form "boy" after "a few". The correct phrase is "a few boys" because "few" indicates a plural quantity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few boy" functions as a determiner phrase followed by a noun. However, it's grammatically incorrect because "few" requires a plural noun. Ludwig AI indicates that the correct form is "a few boys".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a few boy" is grammatically incorrect; the proper form is "a few boys". This error stems from using a plural determiner ("few") with a singular noun ("boy"). Ludwig AI confirms this and provides the correction. Although found in some news sources, its usage is rare and tends to be in informal contexts. For formal writing, always use "a few boys" or alternatives like "several boys" or "some boys" to ensure grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a few boys

Corrects the grammatical error by using the plural form of "boy".

several boys

Replaces "a few" with a synonym indicating a small but unspecified number of boys.

some boys

Uses "some" to indicate an indefinite quantity of boys.

a couple of boys

Specifies a quantity of two boys.

a handful of boys

Indicates a small number of boys, suggesting they can be counted easily.

a small group of boys

Emphasizes the boys are part of a group, and the group is small.

a number of boys

Indicates there are multiple boys, but not specifying the exact amount.

a few young males

Replaces "boys" with a more formal term, "young males".

a select few boys

Highlights that the group of boys is special or chosen in some way.

a scattering of boys

Implies the boys are spread out and few in number.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "a few boy"?

The correct phrasing is "a few boys". The word "few" indicates a plural quantity, so it must be followed by a plural noun.

Can I use "a few" with singular nouns?

No, "a few" should always be followed by a plural noun. For a singular noun, use "a" or "one". For example, "a boy" or "one boy".

What are some alternatives to "a few boys"?

Depending on the context, you could use "several boys", "some boys", or "a couple of boys".

Is there a difference between "few boys" and "a few boys"?

Yes, "few boys" implies a smaller quantity and can sometimes carry a negative connotation, suggesting there are not enough boys. "A few boys" simply means there is a small number of boys, without any negative implication.