In the following question, the sentence given with blank to be filled in with an appropriate word. Select the correct alternative out of the four and indicate it by selecting the appropriate option._________ people in slum areas have access to toilets even in Delhi.

Question

Prepp Team · Accepted Answer

Understanding the Fill-in-the-Blank Question

The question asks us to complete a sentence about the access to toilets in slum areas of Delhi by choosing the most appropriate word from the given options. The sentence is: "_________ people in slum areas have access to toilets even in Delhi."

We need to select a word that correctly modifies the noun "people" and fits the context, especially considering the phrase "even in Delhi," which suggests that the number of people with access is surprisingly low.

Analyzing the Options for Sentence Completion

Let's look at each option and determine its grammatical correctness and suitability for the context:

The little: This phrase is used with uncountable nouns to refer to a small, specific amount that exists. For example, "He spent the little money he had." It is not used with countable nouns like "people."
Few: This word is used with countable nouns (like "people") to indicate a small, insufficient number. This fits the context of the sentence, implying that the number of people with access is low, which is often the case in slum areas, and the use of "even in Delhi" reinforces the idea that this low number is notable or problematic.
Little: This word is used with uncountable nouns (like "water," "time," "money") to indicate a small amount. It is not used with countable nouns like "people."
Every: This word means "all" or "each single one." This would imply that all people in slum areas have access to toilets, which contradicts the likely reality and the tone suggested by "even in Delhi."

Comparing Few and Little

It's helpful to understand the difference between 'few' and 'little' as they often cause confusion. Here's a simple comparison:

Word	Used with	Meaning	Example
Few	Countable Nouns	A small number; not many	Few students passed the difficult exam.
Little	Uncountable Nouns	A small amount; not much	There is little water left in the bottle.

Since "people" is a countable noun, we need a word that works with countable nouns. Both "Few" and "Every" work with countable nouns grammatically, but only "Few" makes sense contextually, implying a limited number.

Determining the Correct Word

Based on the analysis, "Few" is the only option that correctly modifies the countable noun "people" and fits the meaning of the sentence, suggesting that only a small number of people in slum areas have access to toilets, which is a significant issue "even in Delhi."

The completed sentence should be: Few people in slum areas have access to toilets even in Delhi.

Revision Table: Grammar Concepts

Concept	Explanation	Relevance to Question
Countable Nouns	Nouns that can be counted (e.g., people, books, chairs). Use 'few' or 'many'.	'People' is a countable noun, requiring 'few' or 'every', ruling out 'little' and 'the little'.
Uncountable Nouns	Nouns that cannot be counted individually (e.g., water, information, advice). Use 'little' or 'much'.	Helps identify why 'little' and 'the little' are incorrect for 'people'.
Quantifiers	Words or phrases used to indicate an amount or quantity (e.g., few, little, many, much, every).	The question tests the correct usage of quantifiers with different types of nouns.

Additional Information: Usage of Few and A Few

It's worth noting the subtle difference between "few" and "a few":

Few: Means a small number, implying scarcity or not enough. It often has a negative connotation.
A few: Means a small number, but implies at least some exist. It often has a more positive or neutral connotation.

In the given sentence, "_________ people in slum areas have access to toilets even in Delhi," the context "even in Delhi" suggests the situation is concerning, implying a lack of access for most. Therefore, "Few" (implying scarcity) is more appropriate than "A few".