Few minutes before the proceeding started in the court you had told that Tom was not

[tufguy]

Few minutes before the proceeding started in the court you had told that Tom was not in the country. How come he has arrived few minutes after the proceeding started?

Please check my sentences.

 

[emsr2d2]

A few minutes before the court proceedings started, [STRIKE]in the court[/STRIKE] you [STRIKE]had[/STRIKE] were told that Tom was not in the country. How come he [STRIKE]has[/STRIKE] arrived a few minutes after the proceedings started?

Please check my sentences.

See above.

 

[GoesStation]

Tufguy, please always use the indefinite article before few. There are a few cases where other articles, or none, may be appropriate, but few learners will have to know them.

[EDIT] In my second sentence, a few means "some". Few learners means "not very many learners".

 

[GoesStation]

Tufguy, please always use the indefinite article before few. There are a few cases where other articles, or none, may be appropriate, but few learners will have to know them.

[EDIT] In my second sentence, a few means "some". Few learners means "not very many learners".

I feel compelled to expand this. Without the article, few means "such a small number as to be practically insignificant". By contrast, a few means "a relatively small number, probably less than half of the total, but worth considering". I stand by my recommendation that learners use only the version with the article.

 

[tufguy]

See above.

I didn't want to say "you had been told" I wanted to say "you had said that Tom was not in the country". Is it wrong to say "you had said"?

 

[Tdol]

That's fine. Your original version was not.