Question

Choose the correct option:
They have already been to Spain _______ times.
a) few
b) a few
c) a little
d) little

Answer 1

Hint:
 An adjective is a word that expresses an attribute of something. An adjective is the word class that qualifies nouns. For example - ‘beautiful’ is an adjective in the sentence ‘She is very beautiful’.

Complete answer:
In the given question, we have to find out which of the options includes an answer that describes that their visits to Spain have been more than one but relatively small in number.
Let us thus analyze the options given to us in this question -
Option (a.), 'few', refers to ‘a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by `a'; a small but indefinite number’. Therefore, option (a.) is incorrect as ‘times’ here is not a count noun.
Option (b.), ‘a few', refers to ‘more than one but indefinitely small in number’. Therefore, option (b.) is correct as it correctly describes that their visits to Spain have been more than one but relatively small in number.
Option (c.), ‘a little', refers to ‘to a small degree; somewhat’. Therefore, option (c.) is incorrect as a degree is not being referred to here.
Option (d.), ‘little', refers to ‘limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent’.Therefore, option (d.) is incorrect as ‘little’ cannot be used with the noun ‘times’.

Note:
 In this question, it will be helpful for the student to recall the concept of a quantifier. A quantifier is (grammar) a word that expresses a quantity (as `fifteen' or `many'). For example - few, little.