few & a few

[Learneng]

Please tell me the difference between these two and the usage.

Thanks,
Learneng

[luke]

Hi Learneng,

You really know how to test me! The thing about native speakers is that we can talk perfectly all the time, but often have never thought about the way we do it. And that's the way with these two options. I'll try my best to explain how I would use them.

A few
There are a few good reasons to go to work
This explains that a list of reasons could be given, and that because there is quantity (no matter how small), it is significant

Few
There are few good reasons to go to work
This suggests that there aren't really any good reasons to go to work, and is almost the opposite tone of the former sentence. It suggests that work is not worth doing because no significant reason can be given.