a few took

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few took" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a small number of people engaged in a specific action or behavior. Example: "During the meeting, a few took notes while others simply listened."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

A few took jobs in government.

The Economist

A few took shots at competing hotels.

The New York Times

A few took part in the violence.

The New Yorker

A few took classes at community colleges.

The New York Times

A few took bribes or flirted with treason.

The New York Times

A few took issue with the label "Syrian artist" altogether.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

They did a few takes.

The New Yorker

Jones performed a few takes.

The New Yorker

Jez ruined a few takes from laughing.

The Guardian

"We do a few takes on-script, then one unscripted".

The New York Times - Arts

But after a few takes I got it.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a few took", ensure the context clearly defines who or what the 'few' refers to. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the clarity of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "a few took" when the number is more significant than 'a few' implies. Quantify the number more precisely if possible, for instance, by using 'several', 'many', or a specific numerical value.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few took" functions as a determiner phrase followed by a verb, indicating that a limited number of individuals or entities performed an action. As confirmed by Ludwig, this structure is grammatically sound and commonly employed.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a few took" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate that a small number of people or entities engaged in a specific action. Ludwig confirms its validity and broad applicability. It's crucial to ensure the context clearly defines who the 'few' refers to and to avoid using it when the number is more substantial. While versatile, the phrase is most frequently found in news and media sources, maintaining a neutral register that suits both formal and informal communication. Remember to quantify more precisely if the number is significant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

some participated

Uses "some" instead of "a few" and "participated" instead of "took", offering a more general alternative.

several engaged

Replaces "a few" with "several" and "took" with "engaged", slightly increasing the number implied and changing the action verb.

a small number did

Rephrases the idea using "a small number" and "did", focusing on the limited quantity and action.

a minority undertook

Emphasizes that it was a smaller segment with "a minority" and replaces "took" with "undertook", adding a sense of initiative.

only a handful proceeded

Highlights the selectiveness using "only a handful" and replaces "took" with "proceeded", suggesting advancement.

just a few ventured

Uses "just a few" for emphasis and "ventured" to imply an element of risk or boldness in the action.

certain ones acted

Replaces "a few" with "certain ones" and "took" with "acted", providing a more generic substitute.

a couple assumed

Quantifies with "a couple" and replaces "took" with "assumed", altering the context to imply responsibility or a role.

a select few embraced

Highlights the exclusivity of the group with "a select few" and replaces "took" with "embraced", suggesting enthusiastic adoption.

not many adopted

Emphasizes the scarcity using "not many" and replaces "took" with "adopted", changing the context to indicate acceptance or implementation.

FAQs

How can I use "a few took" in a sentence?

The phrase "a few took" is used to indicate that a small number of people or entities engaged in a specific action. For example, "During the meeting, "a few took" notes."

What are some alternatives to "a few took"?

You can use alternatives such as "some participated", "several engaged", or "a small number did" depending on the context.

Is "a few took" formal or informal?

"A few took" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure.

Is it correct to say "a little took" instead of "a few took"?

No, "a little took" is grammatically incorrect in this context. "A few" is used to refer to a small number of countable items or people, while "a little" is used for uncountable nouns. The correct phrase is ""a few took"".