1.a lot有副词性,可用作状语;a lot也有名词性,可用作主语、宾语、表语等。
如:I'm feeling a lot better today. 我今天身体好多了。(状语)
I learned a lot from him about how to run a band. 我从他那里学到了许多关于经营乐队方面的东西。(宾语)
2.a lot of(=lots of)有形容词性,可用作定语修饰可数名词复数或不可数名词。
如:I've brought a lot of books back with me. 我带回了很多书。(定语)
A lot of money went on wining and dining prospective clients. 很多钱都花在宴请潜在客户上了。(定语)
a few和few在句子中修饰可数名词,后接可数名词复数,也可以用来代替复数名词。其中few表示否定,意为“几乎没有”,a few表示肯定,意为“有一些”。
I made a few phone calls.
我打了几个电话。
I gave a dinner party for a few close friends.
我为几个密友办了晚宴。