Choose the most appropriate combination of words to complete the given sentences:
Mr Iyer handed ______ pens he had in his drawer to the new interns, and the drawer was left empty. But there were not ______ chairs for all of them in the meeting room.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → the few / enough
Complete sentences: Mr Iyer handed the few pens he had in his drawer to the new interns, and the drawer was left empty. But there were not enough chairs for all of them in the meeting room. “Pens” can be counted, and “the drawer was left empty”. “Not enough chairs” means some interns had no chair.
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) a few / enough | a few: some, not all of them | Can you lend me a few rupees for the auto? |
| (2) the little / enough | the little: with uncountable nouns (the little time, the little money) | Sonu used the little paint he had on the old gate. |
| (3) the few / much | much: with uncountable nouns (much time, much sugar), not with “chairs” | There is not much sugar left in the jar. |
| (4) the few / enough (answer) | the few: all of the small number there is; enough: as many as we need | Raju sold the few books he had, but he still did not have enough money for the fees. |