few material

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "few material" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "few materials"? If this is the case, you can use it when referring to a small number of physical items or resources needed for a task or project. Example: "We have few materials left to complete the construction of the model."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

James Barrie and Thomas Hardy, like Elgar, all started life with few material advantages.

The New York Times - Arts

She had few material resources but many friends who happily yielded to her persuasive ways.

The Economist

WASHINGTON — American slaves managed ingeniously to acquire a few material comforts.

The New York Times - Arts

And also, because we had few material goods, there was the compensation of a much higher spiritual value to life.

The Guardian

And though there have been few material changes in the past decade, there will be stark social changes.

The Guardian - Opinion

They have very few material possessions yet maintain a tradition of wearing silver jewelry that they make by hand.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

The process remains a maze that few materials survive.

The Guardian

It has been detected only in a few materials.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Very few materials wind up generating the revenues that sustain an entire system," he said.

The New York Times

Few materials related to South Asian Americans are included in existing archives.

The New York Times

Vezzoli makes art out of fame — few materials are more fleeting than that.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a small quantity of tangible items, use "few materials" instead of "few material". The word "materials" should be plural to correctly reflect that you're talking about multiple items.

Common error

Avoid using the singular form "material" when you intend to refer to multiple items. Using "few material" is grammatically incorrect. Instead, use the plural form "materials" to indicate that you are talking about multiple physical items.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "few material" functions as an adjective-noun combination, where "few" modifies the noun "material". However, it is grammatically questionable because "material" should typically be pluralized to "materials" when used with "few" to indicate a small number of items. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is not correct.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "few material" is grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, it should be "few materials" when referring to multiple tangible items. The intended meaning is to indicate a small quantity of physical resources. To avoid this error, remember to use the plural form "materials" when using the adjective "few". Alternatives like "limited resources" or "scarce resources" can also be used depending on the context. Despite the conceptual use, "few material" should be avoided in both formal and informal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited materials

Directly addresses the restricted quantity of materials.

small quantity of materials

A more descriptive way to describe a low volume of materials.

limited resources

Emphasizes the restricted availability of resources, applicable in various contexts.

restricted materials

Emphasizes limitations placed on what materials are used or accessible.

scarce resources

Highlights the rarity and potential unavailability of resources.

minimal supplies

Focuses on the small quantity of supplies available.

paucity of resources

Indicates a general lack or scarcity of resources.

inadequate resources

Stresses the insufficiency of available resources to meet a need.

insufficient supplies

Highlights that the amount of supplies is not enough.

meager possessions

Refers to a small amount of personal property or belongings.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "few material"?

The grammatically correct way to phrase this is to use the plural form: "few materials". This is because you are referring to multiple tangible items, so the noun should be in its plural form.

Is "few material" grammatically correct?

No, "few material" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "few materials" when referring to multiple tangible items.

When should I use "few materials" instead of "few material"?

Use "few materials" when you are referring to a small number of tangible items or resources. The term "material" should be plural when it refers to multiple items.

What are some alternatives to saying "few materials"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "limited resources", "scarce resources", or "minimal supplies".