there were a few

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "there were a few" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you are describing a small yet finite number of something. For example, "There were a few of us who decided to explore the abandoned building."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There were a few".

The New Yorker

There were a few surprises.

The Guardian

There were a few restaurants.

The New Yorker

There were a few oddities.

The Economist

There were a few nods.

The New York Times

There were a few problems.

The New York Times

There were a few disappointments.

The New York Times

True, there were a few exhilarating sections.

The New York Times - Arts

There were a few design-oriented comments.

The New York Times

Granted, there were a few actual lemons.

The New York Times

In Istanbul, there were a few comments.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "there were a few" with specific details to provide context. For example, "There were a few challenges, but the team overcame them successfully."

Common error

Avoid using "there were a few" with singular nouns. This phrase requires a plural noun. For example, it's incorrect to say, "There were a few problem." Instead, use "There was a problem" or "There were a few problems."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were a few" functions as an existential quantifier, asserting the existence of a small number of items or instances. It introduces the subject while indicating its limited quantity. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "there were a few" is a grammatically sound and common phrase used to indicate a small, unspecified quantity of something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Its neutral tone makes it appropriate for various contexts, from news articles to everyday conversation. The most frequent occurrences are found in News & Media sources. When writing, remember to pair "there were a few" with plural nouns and provide context for better clarity. While alternatives like ""a couple"" or ""several"" exist, "there were a few" offers a general indication of a limited number without being overly specific.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a small number happened

This replaces "few" with "small number", emphasizing the limited quantity of events.

a limited number occurred

This emphasizes the restriction in the number of occurrences.

a handful existed

This phrase replaces "there were" with "existed", implying that only a small number were present.

not many existed

This phrase uses negation to express a limited quantity, rather than a direct assertion of quantity.

only some occurred

This highlights that the quantity of occurrences was small, substituting "few" with "some".

a minority were present

This highlights that only a small proportion or a minority was present.

several were present

Using "several" instead of "a few" suggests a slightly larger, though still limited, quantity.

some did happen

This indicates that some events did take place, replacing the quantitative aspect with a factual statement.

certain ones did exist

This emphasizes the certainty of a small number existing, adding a layer of confirmation.

just a couple existed

Replacing "a few" with "a couple" specifies a quantity of two, offering a more precise number.

FAQs

How can I use "there were a few" in a sentence?

Use "there were a few" to indicate a small number or quantity of something. For example, "There were a few clouds in the sky" or "There were a few issues with the project".

What are some alternatives to "there were a few"?

You can use alternatives like "a couple", "several", or "a handful" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "there was a few"?

No, "there was a few" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "there were a few" because "were" is the plural form of "was" and should be used with the plural quantifier "few".

What's the difference between "there were a few" and "there were some"?

"There were a few" implies a smaller quantity than "there were some". While both indicate an indefinite quantity, "there were some" suggests a slightly larger or less specific number than "there were a few".